"But you did him no harm," and she glanced at my arm in its sling.
She had not troubled herself to ask how it did, and I, a little nettled at her neglect, said:
"Nay, all ended well. I alone was hurt, and the great lord came off safe."
"Since the great lord was in the right," said she, "we should all rejoice at that. Are you satisfied with your examination of the picture, Mr Dale?"
I was not to be turned aside so easily.
"If you hold me to have been wrong, then I have done what I could to put myself in the right since," said I, not doubting that she knew of my surrender of the commission.
"I don't understand," said she, with a quick glance. "What have you done?"
In wonder that she had not been informed, I cried,
"I have obtained the King's leave to decline his favour."