For the first time in his life certain dreams, which had been as dear to him as life itself, had received a shattering blow.
Always he had spoken and acted from conviction.

It was that which had given his words their splendid force.

It was that which had made the words which he had spoken live as though they had been winged with fire.
Perhaps it was his own fault.

Perhaps he should have avoided altogether this house of the easier ways..