With all due respect, [And he uses the phrase a little ironically, if only because Erik has never asked him to treat him like a superior and he's the only person David has felt deserves that kind of respect.] I don't think that's true.
[Very few others had been able to understand, had been willing to listen. Erik had, even though he'd had no reason to, had every reason to dismiss David and want nothing to do with him.
private
[Very few others had been able to understand, had been willing to listen. Erik had, even though he'd had no reason to, had every reason to dismiss David and want nothing to do with him.
He knows he couldn't have done it without him.]