Heaven shield you from his talons! And now, my good young Sir, accept one piece of caution from me, which my years and kindly feelings towards you entitle me to make.

An you 'scape this danger, as I trust you may, let it be a lesson to you to put a guard upon your tongue, and not suffer it to out-run your judgment.

You are much too rash and impetuous, and by your folly (nay, do not quarrel with me, my young friend--I can give no milder appellation to your conduct) have placed yourself in the power of your enemies.

Not only have you provoked Sir Francis Mitchell, whose malice is more easily aroused than appeased, but you have defied Sir Giles Mompesson, who is equally implacable in his enmities; and as if two such enemies were not enough, you must needs make a third, yet more dangerous than either." "How so, good Master Wolfe ?" Jocelyn cried.

"To whom do you refer ?" "To whom should I refer, Master Jocelyn," Wolfe rejoined, "but to my lord of Buckingham, whom you wantonly insulted?
For the latter indiscretion there can be no excuse, whatever there may be for the former; and it was simple madness to affront a nobleman of his exalted rank, second only in authority to the King himself." "But how have I offended the Marquis ?" demanded Jocelyn, surprised.
"Is it possible you can have spoken at random, and without knowledge of the force of your own words ?" John Wolfe rejoined, looking hard at him.
"It may be so, for you are plainly ignorant of the world.