There's an indignant note to the question Caleb asks, a bit of naiveté that Darlington can't help finding quietly amusing--even as he respects the kid all the more for it. He'd have made a challenging, if worthwhile, Dante. Much like the one Darlington had been given. "Call it cheating, or luck, or privilege, as you wish. Much worse has been said about them, and they're all still here."