His sublime belief in himself never wavered and like any inspired view, right or wrong, it had its strong effect.
Mr.Carlyon thought highly of him, for a number of reasons.
"If women do not make a stumbling-block for you, John, you will go far," he said as he buttered his toast.
"Women!" quoth John Derringham, and he laughed incredulously.

"They matter no more to me than the flowers in the garden--enchanting in the summer time, a mere pleasure for sight and touch, but to make or mar a man's life!--not even to be considered as factors in the scheme of things." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Mr.Carlyon dryly.

"And I hope that jade, Fate, won't play you any tricks." John Derringham smiled.
"I admit that a woman with money may be useful to me by and by," he said, "because, as you know, I am always hard up, and presently when I want to occupy a larger sphere I shall require money for my ends, but for the time being they serve to divert me as a relaxation; that is all." "You are contracting no ties, dear lad ?" asked the Professor with one eyebrow raised, while he shook back his silvery hair.

"I had heard vaguely about your attention to Lady Durrend, but I understand she has had many preliminary canters and knows the ropes." John Derringham smiled.

"Vivienne Durrend is a most charming woman," he said.