“You cannot expect me to believe that, sir. It rests with you alone whether his name be cleared or not. And you remain silent.”

“Warburton, I⁠—Oh, do you think it means nothing to me that John is outcast?”

Before the misery in those grey eyes some of Warburton’s severity fell away from him.

“Master Richard, I want to think the best I can of you. Master Jack would tell me nothing. Will you not⁠—can you not explain how it came that you allowed him to bear the blame of your cheat?”

Richard shuddered.