The women liked him: therefore he was a butterfly.

In fine, young Ralph was popular, and our superb prince, denied the privilege of despising, ended by detesting him.
Early in the days of their contention for leadership, Richard saw the absurdity of affecting to scorn his rival.

Ralph was an Eton boy, and hence, being robust, a swimmer and a cricketer.

A swimmer and a cricketer is nowhere to be scorned in youth's republic.

Finding that manoeuvre would not do, Richard was prompted once or twice to entrench himself behind his greater wealth and his position; but he soon abandoned that also, partly because his chilliness to ridicule told him he was exposing himself, and chiefly that his heart was too chivalrous.
And so he was dragged into the lists by Ralph, and experienced the luck of champions.