Some people think he is half a fool, but I don't agree with them; he is as sharp as a needle, to my mind.

But, as I say, he has never had a fair chance.
A fellow like that, without friends, is sure to get roughly treated." "Is he a young man of about one or two and twenty ?" Philip asked.
"I remember a fellow of about that age brought out the horse, and as he seemed to me a shrewd fellow, and had evidently taken great pains in grooming Robin, I gave him a crown.

I thought he needed it, for his clothes were old and tattered, and he looked as if he hadn't had a hearty meal for a week.
"Well, Maitre Bertram, can you tell me if, among his other occupations, he has ever been charged with theft ?" "No, I have never heard that brought against him." "Why did he leave you ?" "It was from no complaint as to his honesty.

Indeed, he left of his own accord, after a quarrel with one of the men, who was, as far as I could learn, in the wrong.

I did not even hear that he had left until a week after, and it was too late then to go thoroughly into the matter.