He could argue and did argue, when Random simply agreed.

Lucy had similar idiosyncrasies, inherited from a clever father, so it was just as well that she preferred Archie to Frank.

Had the latter young gentleman married her, he would have dwindled to Lady Random's husband, and would have found too late that he had domesticated a kind of imitation George Eliot.

When he congratulated Archie on his engagement somewhat ruefully, he little thought what an escape he had had.
But Professor Braddock, who did not belong to the gray tribe, knew nothing of this, as his Egyptological studies did not permit him time to argue on such commonplace matters.

He therefore failed in advance when he set out to persuade Random into renewing his suit.