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Not only was he lovable, as Curzon was not, but he was endowed with a great gift of loving. This side of idolatry, he undoubtedly adored his wife and son. He had a host of friends, as distinct from acquaintances; and amongst them could be included his subordinates, servants and retainers.
That he could leave behind him the son whom he almost worshipped, was, to me, final proof of his great sense of duty and of service; for as I have said, there was no other reason why he should lead any life but that of a country squire of broad acres.
That he should have left the boy in my charge after so brief an acquaintanceship--for he knew me for less than three months--is the highest compliment I have ever received.
I can only feebly return it by saying that I grew to like him more than I have ever liked any man in so short a period.
[5]
And now to tell you about the man calling himself Captain Montague Bertie-Norton.
Wishing not only to be fair to him, as well as to the others, and to draw an accurate picture of him, I will begin by saying that I don't think it is right to call him a villain--by which I mean a downright, unmitigated, blackguardly scoundrel.