But who was this priest to rate me in such a style?
My temper banished my prudence, and, bending my head towards him, I answered: "Yet the Crown itself is worn with these reservations, sir, and the King himself allows them." For a moment nobody spoke.

Then Arlington said, "I fear, sir, Mr Dale is as yet less a courtier than an honest gentleman." The Duke rose to his feet.
"I have found no fault with Mr Dale," said he haughtily and coldly, and, taking no more heed of me, he walked away, while Hudleston, having bestowed on me an angry glance, followed him.
"Mr Dale, Mr Dale!" whispered Arlington, and with no more than that, although still with a smile, he slipped his arm out of mine and left me, beckoning Darrell to go with him.

Darrell obeyed with a shrug of despair.

I was alone--and, as it seemed, ruined.

Alas, why must I blurt out my old lessons as though I had been standing again at my father's knee and not in the presence of the Duke of York?
Yes, my race was run before it was begun.