...since through Mr. P's making the officers' acquaintance and inviting them into his home, he allowed a backdoor connection to the Bennets, one of the leading families in the community. One of the reasons I saw Wickham's continued interest in Lizzy even after he learned of her lack of fortune was the connection it gave him in the community. She was not only well connected but generally seen as clever, perceptive, and discriminating. By fooling her, Wickham gave himself added credibility.