idea,” he said at last, “of the great regard in which I hold you.” So we came to it. I took a deep breath. The silence in the room lengthened. Since he said nothing, I was obliged to. “I am not sure . . . ,” I began, but my voice broke. I coughed a little, to clear my throat, and tried again. “That is, while I welcome your good opinion, I do not see how it is I that I have earned it. Until this past sennight, the only one time you had heard my voice was in meeting, execrating myself.” He turned then, a slight smile playing on his lips. “But you did it with such eloquence. Who could be
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