An odd consternation formed about the farmer's mouth. He changed his posture, and said, "Ay? that's what ye're come to tell me sir?"
"Yes!" said Richard, firmly.
"And that be all?"
"Yes!" Richard reiterated.
The farmer again changed his posture. "Then, my lad, ye've come to tell me a lie!"
Farmer Blaize looked straight at the boy, undismayed by the dark flush of ire he had kindled.
"You dare to call me a liar!" cried Richard, starting up.
"I say," the farmer renewed his first emphasis, and smacked his thigh thereto, "that's a lie!"
Richard held out his clenched fist. "You have twice insulted me. You have struck me: you have dared to call me a liar. I would have apologized—I would have asked your pardon, to have got off that fellow in prison. Yes! I would have degraded myself that another man should not suffer for my deed"—
"Quite proper!" interposed the farmer.