"You are an Oxford man yourself, I understand." "Yes; I was at -- - College." "So I heard from a friend of mine there, who remembered your name." Mr Armstrong twitched his glass a little and puffed away.
"Yes," said the captain, encouraged by this slight symptom of uneasiness; "I heard a good deal about you up there, as it happened." "Kind of you to take so much interest in me.

You ascertained, of course, that I left Oxford in debt and without a degree ?" This was check again for the captain, who had counted upon this discovery as an effective bombshell for his side.
"As regards Roger, however," proceeded the tutor, reaching across for the captain's ash-tray, "I would advise Balliol in preference to--" "We shall not need to trouble you for your advice." "But I shall most certainly give it." By this time Captain Oliphant's self-control was rapidly evaporating.
He was beginning to feel himself a little small, and that always annoyed him.
"Look here, Mr Frank Armstrong," said he, leaning back in his chair, and trying hard to look superior, "it is just as well for you and me to understand one another.

I have heard what sort of figure you cut at Oxford, and the disgrace in which you left the University.

Allow me to say, sir, that it reflects little credit on your honour that you should have imposed on your late employer, and taken advantage of his weak health and faculties to foist yourself upon his family under false colours." "Will you oblige me with a light ?" interposed Mr Armstrong.
"You are under a delusion if you think I am not perfectly well acquainted with your disreputable antecedents.

Let me tell you, sir, that a music-hall cad is not a fitting companion for a lad of Roger's rank and expectations." "I perfectly agree with you.