'Read this!' and he handed to him the newspaper.

'You can't leave it alone.' 'I can, and shall,' replied Drake, and he returned to his breakfast.
'But, my dear fellow, you can't understand what that means! Read the leader, then.' Drake glanced quickly down it.

'Now, do you understand?
It means utter ruin, utter disgrace, unless you answer this charge, and answer it at once.

You will have created a false enough impression already.' Drake, however, made no response beyond a shrug of his shoulders.

'But, good Lord, man,' continued Fielding, 'your name's at stake.