“Humph!” ejaculated the Prince, looking on gravely, but with his face softening a little. “The boy’s honest enough, sir. But you occupy a very curious position, young gentleman, a very curious position, and everything naturally looked very black against you.”
“Did it, your Highness? Yes, I suppose so.”
“Then you had been quarrelling with that wretched young traitor about joining the—the enemy?” said the Prince.
Frank winced at “wretched young traitor”; but he answered firmly:
“Yes, sir; we were always quarrelling about it, but I hoped to get him to think right at last.”
“And failed, eh?” said the Prince, with a smile.
“Yes, sir.”
“And pray, was it about this business that you fought out yonder?”
“It had something to do with it, sir,” said Frank, flushing up. “He said—”
Frank stopped short, looking sadly confused, and grew more so as he found the questioner had fixed his eyes, full now of suspicion, upon him.