He was not ashamed of his humble birth, and made no secret of it; nor did he deny that he should never have found himself in such fine company save for the introduction and good offices of Lord Claud.
"And you desire to see foreign parts ?" "I was sent from home that I might do so.

My father thought I might find room in your Grace's army to fight for my country.

I was smitten so with the wonders of London that I have lingered here long.

But I begin to weary of the life.

I would gladly go forth and see new lands, the more so if I could travel with a comrade who knew to frame his tongue to foreign speech;" and here he glanced at Lord Claud, who seemed to him a notable linguist.
"You know no tongue but your own, Mr.Tufton ?" "Never a word; and even that I cannot speak as men speak it in London town, so that I am fain to keep silence in a crowd like this, lest men laugh me to scorn, and anger me till I say or do something unseemly;" and the lad's face flushed, for he had been sorely provoked before this, and had need of all his patience to quell the tempest of his soul.
The Duke smiled at this boyish frankness of speech; but then his face grew grave again, and he stood a while in thought.