# XVI explained — David Harum

> Chapter companion for David Harum by Edward Noyes Westcott.

## What happens

David Harum discusses John Lenox's progress at the bank with Aunt Polly, revealing a test of John's honesty involving counterfeit bills. John refuses to pass the bad money and burns it instead, earning David's respect as an honest man.

## Themes in this chapter

### Horse Trading and Moral Ambiguity

David tests John's honesty with counterfeit bills, a morally ambiguous scheme that reveals John's integrity.

### Character and Reputation

John's refusal to pass counterfeit money and his willingness to absorb the loss demonstrate his strong character, earning David's respect.

## Character check-ins

### David Harum

Sits reading his paper, teases Aunt Polly, and recounts his experiment with John Lenox regarding counterfeit bills.

### Aunt Polly

Sews a towel, expresses concern about John's loneliness, and criticizes David's scheme with the counterfeit money.

### John Lenox

Mentioned as having taken over bank duties, struggled with handling money, and refused to pass counterfeit bills, burning them instead.

### Chet Timson

Mentioned as having neglected bank work, requiring John to straighten things out.

## Key lines

> I’ve ben lookin’ fer an honest man fer quite a number o’ years, an’ I guess I’ve found him; yes’m, I guess I’ve found him.

David declares that after years of searching, he believes he has finally found an honest man in John Lenox.

_David's reflection on John's integrity after the counterfeit incident._

> He jest backed into the britchin’, an’ I couldn’t do nothin’ with him.

David says John was stubbornly set in his decision, and he could not change his mind.

_David describes John's firm refusal to pass the counterfeit bills._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se/chapters/xvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se/chapters