“Eh? What, sir? How dare you speak to me like this?” cried the Prince. “I have heard everything about this morning’s and last night’s business, and I find that I have been showing kindness to a young viper of a traitor, who is in direct communication with the enemy, and playing the spy on all my movements so as to send news.”
“It is not true, your Highness!” cried the boy warmly. “You have been deceived. Just as if I would do such a thing as that!”
“Do you mean to pretend that this young Forbes, your friend and companion, is not in correspondence with the enemy?”
“No, your Royal Highness,” said the lad sadly.
“You knew it?”
“Yes.”
“Then, as my servant, why did you not inform me, sir?”
“Because I was your servant, sir, and not a spy,” said the boy proudly.
“Very fine language, upon my honour!” cried the Prince. “But you are friends with him; and last night, after his first failure, you helped him to escape.”
“I did not, sir!” cried the boy passionately.