“Of course! Spoken like a father.”
“And you,” continued the boy, “a true old friend in whom he could trust.”
“What!” cried the old soldier. “What! Friend? Did he say that?”
“Of course. He often talks like that.”
“A friend in whom he could trust!” muttered the old soldier. “And here have I been listening to you and doing what I know he’d hate.”
He gripped the boy sharply by the wrist as he spoke.
“Why, Serge, what do you mean?” cried the boy, wonderingly.
“Mean! Why, what have I been doing? Doesn’t he want you to grow up as one who hates fighting, and a lover of peace? And here have I been teaching you how to use the sword and spear and shield, making of you one who knows how to lead a phalanx to the fight—a man of war. What would he say if he knew?”
Marcus was silent.
“I have done wrong, boy,” continued the old soldier, “and some day he’ll find us out.”