“The pigeon lost some feathers, eh?”
“At least the pigeon played fair, sir!” said Prudence rather tartly.
“Softly, softly, my child! Do you say that Rensley cheated?”
Prudence flashed a glance upwards into that inscrutable face. “Do you think he would not cheat a pigeon, sir?”
“No, little man, I thought that he would.”
She bit her lip. “You’re scarcely just to me, sir.”
“What, because I would not scare away an ogre from the nursling? Experience harms none, child.”
“I think you wanted to show me, sir, that I was at the mercy of all once away from your side,” said Prudence plainly.
“And are you not?” Sir Anthony inquired.
“There is perhaps a trick or two up my sleeve yet, sir. But why should you desire to demonstrate thus to me?”