Roger considered:
“Let’s see—at a blow. A gentleman is a man who observes certain rules of behavior founded on consideration for the welfare and comfort of others.”
“It sounds like the polite letter writer. Can a gentleman tell lies?”
“To benefit himself, no. To shield others, yes.”
“If he was noble inside—in his character—and uncouth outside, would he be a gentleman?”
“What do you mean by uncouth?”
“Well—wore a watch chain made of nuggets like a man I met in Dresden, and ate peas with his knife?”
“No.”
“Then, if he had beautiful manners and a bad heart, would he be one?”
“If his bad heart didn’t obtrude too much on his dealings with society, he might.”