i could not know , for certain , the exact nature of the spiders undoing , but in my estimation , he would have been outdone by some other species of creaturea magpie , for examplewho , by dint of an even fancier ( and abidingly , more opportunistic ) wig , had risen to prestige , singled out the spider as his rival and ultimately bested him in the only way befitting a true gentleman ( gentlebird , if you prefer ) : by spreading malicious rumors with the intent to sow discord amongst his team of aides , spark mockery from his inferiors , and otherwise besmirch unalterably his reputation , leaving him with little recourse , but to fall from the rank of gentleman ( or , gentlespider , yes ) to a far more disgraceful position , hence the woeful display you now see before you .