"Ah—David has explained," Anthony managed.
"Got the trouble all smoothed over, eh?"
"Yes."
Johnson Boller laughed mightily and winked at David. Further, he stepped over and slapped David's back—no mere friendly tap, but a whack that nearly sent him from the bed.
"Who was the squab, kid?" he cried. "Who——"
"Don't hit him like that!" Anthony gasped.
"What?"
"The boy——"
"Tap like that won't hurt him!" Johnson Boller chuckled as David, suppressing a shriek, managed to grip the bed and regain his balance. "Who was the Gallic chicken, my lad?"
"A—a friend of mine," David said weakly.