Come, let me be.

I have said as much to the Secretary's face, and he bore it with more patience than you can muster on his behalf." By this time I was in some distress to see my old friend and my new at such variance, and the more as I could not understand the ground of their difference; the Secretary's suspected leaning towards the Popish religion had not reached our ears in the country.

But Darrell, as though he did not wish to dispute further with a man his superior in rank and age, drew off with a bow to my lord and a kindly nod to me, and rejoined the other gentlemen in attendance on the King and his party.
"You came off well with the King, Simon," said my lord, taking my arm again.

"You made him laugh, and he counts no man his enemy who will do him that service.

But what did Arlington say to you ?" When I repeated the Secretary's words, he grew grave, but he patted my arm in a friendly fashion, saying, "You've shown wisdom and honour in this first matter, lad.