"What is that on your collar, Lionel?" said Sir Richard. "Why, it is blood! How did it come there?"
"I'm sure I don't know!" Lionel replied hastily, without the least hesitation.
"Nonsense! You must know! What have you been doing?" Sir Richard cried sharply. "Come, speak out!"
"I haven't been doing anything," Lionel declared in a sulky tone. "If there's blood on my collar I can't help it! I don't know how it came there!"
Dick was simply astounded to hear his cousin lie so glibly. The colour rushed to his face; and his grandfather, happening to glance at him at that moment, was struck by his guilty appearance.
"Perhaps you can throw some light on the matter, Dick?" he said enquiringly. "What has Lionel been doing?"
"It was my fault!" Dick cried distressfully. "I hit him, and made his nose bleed, and I suppose some of the blood got on his collar! It was very wrong of me; I know I ought not to have struck him; but we've made it up now, haven't we, Lionel?"
"Yes," Lionel acknowledged, wishing heartily his cousin had held his tongue.
"What made you lie to me?" demanded Sir Richard furiously, turning upon his elder grandson in a passion. "You know I hate a liar!"
"Oh, grandfather!" cried Dick pleadingly, "I think he told a story because he didn't wish to get me into a row!"