Behind the compliments lavished upon him he detected a note of irony, which revealed the laughter that went on behind his back.

He had not realized how much it would hurt.

"For two cents," he thought, "I'd give up the game and be satisfied with what's left." But he reflected that such a course would offer no chance to redeem himself.

Once again he took up the challenge and determined to win out.

"Then," he thought exultantly, "I'll make them feel this a bit." He longed for the time when he could take his few friends with him and sail away to the Mediterranean to escape the eyes and tongues of New York.