"Sir John," he explained, "talks too
much. 'Tis a fault that wants correcting. I go to teach him the
virtue of silence."
"There will be trouble, Oliver."
"So there will--for him. If a man must be saying of me that I am a
pirate, a slave-dealer, a murderer, and Heaven knows what else, he must
be ready for the consequences. But you are late, Lal. Where have you
been?"
"I rode as far as Malpas."
"As far as Malpas?" Sir Oliver's eyes narrowed, as was the trick with
him. "I hear it whispered what magnet draws you thither," he said.
"Be wary, boy. You go too much to Malpas."
"How?" quoth Lionel a trifle coldly.
"I mean that you are your father's son. Remember it, and strive not to
follow in his ways lest they bring you to his own end. I have just
been reminded of these predilections of his by good Master Peter. Go
not over often to Malpas, I say. No more." But the arm which he flung
about his younger brother's shoulders and the warmth of his embrace
made resentment of his warning quite impossible.
When he was gone, Lionel sat him down to dine, with Nick to wait on
him. He ate but little, and never addressed the old servant in the
course of that brief repast. He was very pensive. In thought he
followed his brother on that avenging visit of his to Arwenack.
Killigrew was no babe, but man of his hands, a soldier and a seaman.
If any harm should come to Oliver...He trembled at the thought; and
then almost despite him his mind ran on to calculate the consequences
to himself.
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