'Christian, not another soul knows or shall know. Sir, you can tell him that the League had not even a guess. I stood out for that.
'You asked nothing. Had you but cared to ask, I would have told you earlier. You may have guessed; you cannot deny you are able. Sir, he is; and when I asked his services, he promised—without reserve he promised.
'Christian, you never have failed of your word; all your life that has been your pride, and so have I relied on it—a man's life relies on it.'
Christian kept an averted face, and stared down into the water.
'You can—I know you can!'
'I can.'
'And you will—to your promise I trusted.'
'I promised, and I will.'
Philip grasped his hand in cordial gratitude; Christian suffered it, but his face was sullen. The Adventurer saw sweat standing on the brow of each, so that he wondered at what were behind.
Philip turned with a brightened eye.