"I have given my word, sir," he answered firmly. "You would not have me break it?"
"You said that you have received the flag from a friend, if my memory serves me—a proved friend?"
"Yes, sir."
"May I ask in what way his friendship has been proved?"
How could Paul answer him? How could he tell the man before him in what way Wyndham had proved his friendship to him? Suddenly, it flashed into Paul's mind that the bold course was the best.
"When I was home last vacation, sir, a gentleman had an accident with his horse. He asked me to take a packet for him to Mr. Moncrief, the father of Moncrief minor. I took the packet. On the way I was set on by two ruffians. I got away from them, but they followed me, and would have got the packet from me had it not been for the friend I speak of."
Mr. Weevil's eyes began closing as Paul was speaking. When he finished they opened again.
"What did this friend do?"
"Hid me till the ruffians had gone."
"Good! And that enabled you to get the packet to Mr. Moncrief?"