"Arnold Jackson is a despicable rogue," he said.
"I greatly fear he is," answered Edward, smiling.
"I don't see how any decent man can have anything to do with him."
"Perhaps I'm not a decent man."
"Do you see much of him, Edward?"
"Yes, quite a lot. He's adopted me as his nephew."
Bateman leaned forward and fixed Edward with his searching eyes.
"Do you like him?"
"Very much."
"But don't you know, doesn't everyone here know, that he's a forger and that he's been a convict? He ought to be hounded out of civilised society."