"That is the greatest mistake of all. All of you put it down to fear of me; but it wasn't—far otherwise. I don't believe that Paul Percival knows what fear is; and you, who were his friend, ought to have known that as well as I do."
"So I thought—up till then. After, what could I think? What could any of us think?"
"Your best of him, instead of your worst. Haven't you ever suspected the reason why he would not stand up to me?"
"Never! Why?"
"Blind—blind! Do you remember that Percival on one occasion—during last vacation—helped a gentleman in distress by acting as his messenger?"
"Quite well, seeing that that gentleman was my father."
"Your father? Yes, that was the gentleman, I believe, for whom Percival did this kindness. He was set upon by the way by two ruffians, but managed to escape. Did he ever tell you how he managed it?"
"By hiding down a well."
"Right! But there was a boy who helped him to this queer hiding-place. That boy was me!"
"You?"