He was a thorough lawyer.

Many doubted his eloquence, and some declared that he had known well the extent of his own powers in abstaining from seeking the higher honours of his profession; but no one doubted his law.

He had once written a book,--on the mortgage of stocks in trade; but that had been in early life, and he had never since dabbled in literature.
He was certainly a man of whom men were generally afraid.

At the whist-table no one would venture to scold him.

In the court no one ever contradicted him.