Chapter Five.
The Trouble Grows.
“There!” muttered Serge. “We’ve done it now!”
“My old arms and weapons! Yours, Serge! And these?—How came you to be possessed of those, my boy?”
The new-comer pointed, frowning the while, at the boy’s weapons, and then turned his eyes upon Serge, who turned as red as the detected boy, and made signs for him to speak; but, instead of speaking out, Marcus signalled back for his companion to explain.
“I am waiting very patiently for one of you to give me some explanation, though I see plainly enough that I have been disobeyed by you, my son, as well as by my old servant, in whom I thought I could place confidence. Marcus, my son, do not disgrace yourself further by behaving like a coward. Speak out at once and confess.”
“Yes, father,” cried the boy, making a desperate effort to speak out frankly. “I want to tell you everything, but it is so hard to do.”
“Hard to speak the truth, boy?”
“No, father, I did not mean that. I—I—”