The better cause came later.
I failed to tell you of a brief conversation which occurred between Sir George and me after my cousin first saw the Earl of Leicester.

Sir George had gallantly led the queen to her apartments, and I had conducted Leicester and several of the gentlemen to their various rooms.

Sir George and I met at the staircase after we had quitted our guests.
He said: "Malcolm, that fellow Thomas whom I knocked in the head looked no more like Leicester than I do.

Why did you tell me there was resemblance ?" "I do not know," I answered.

"Perhaps your words suggested the thought of a resemblance.