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"Lived abroad a great deal, I believe" Sir Peter was anxious to throw a

vaguely charitable light on his neighbor's escapades

"Got into some scrape about a woman, I fancy Anyhow he left a pile of

debts behind hi with curiosity, Sir Peter endeavored to look detached But at

this point Mr Vance, rereat man in his customer's county, and chilled a little by Sir Peter's

manner, checked the flow of his re

scamp--another two inches round the waist, sir--but I daresay he's

settled down steady enough by this time"

"No doubt he has," said Sir Peter, a little loftily He was disgusted

with Vance

But though Vance's conduct was disgusting, after all he had told hi to know The antecedents of old Tyson of Thorneytoft had

been wrapped in a dull mystery which nobody had ever taken the trouble to

penetrate He had been in business--that hly respectable, it was concluded that his business had been highly

respectable too And then he had retired for ten years before he caht be considered a season of purification

before entering on his soleentleins And as the years went on he

wrapped hiarentle cultivator of orchids, until, gradually