Paul is the novel's main character. At the beginning of the book, Paul is a twenty year old, middle class man with strong morals and a natural diffidence studying for the Church. Paul's studies are abruptly ended, forcing him to become a schoolmaster and ensuing circumstances make him a bridegroom to a high-class woman and, later, an unwitting criminal. Eventually, however, he is able to return to his college. Shy and introverted, Paul is a shadow of a character rather than a hero, witnessing events and not participating in them.
Sir Alastair is the young man who inadvertently is to blame for all of Paul's troubles. Later, Sir Alastair is Paul's choice for best man in his aborted wedding, the lover of Paul's ex-fiancye, and one of the men responsible for helping.....
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