"And you wouldn't tell them a word!" cried Dave, bitterly. "Jasniff, I never supposed any fellow could be so cruel and hard-hearted."
"Humph! I haven't forgotten what I had to suffer," muttered the runaway.
"You brought all that on yourself. You had no business to go in with those two thieves. If you had remained honest there would have been no call for you to run away."
"What Dave says is true, Jasniff," said Roger. "If you have suffered, it is all through your own dishonesty."
"Who says a relative of mine is dishonest!" came a loud, harsh voice from the doorway of the library, and turning quickly Dave and Roger found themselves confronted by an old man, white with sudden rage, and brandishing a heavy cane in his hand.
Both Dave and his chum were startled by the sudden interruption, and for the moment did not know what to say. They looked at the old man and then at Nick Jasniff. The latter turned pale and seemed thoroughly ill at ease.
"Who says a relative of mine is dishonest?" repeated the old man, and now he strode up to Dave and raised the cane over the youth's head.
"If you refer to this boy as your relative, I say he is dishonest," answered Dave, stoutly.
"Nicholas dishonest! It cannot be! There must be some mistake."
"I am sorry for you, sir, but there is no mistake," returned Dave.
"My name is David Porter. I come from the United States. Nicholas and myself and my friend here all attended the same boarding school."
"Yes, sir. I presume you are Mr. Philip Chesterfield."
"I am, and I am a great-uncle to Nicholas." The old man lowered his cane. "What do you know of Nicholas?" he questioned, curiously.
"I know a great deal, Mr. Chesterfield. If you care to hear the story I will tell it to you."
"Don't you listen to him, Uncle Phil," stormed Nick Jasniff, in increasing fear. "He'll tell you nothing but a bundle of lies."
"I can prove every statement I make," answered Dave.
"Dave will tell you nothing but the truth," added Roger.
"He is the son of United States Senator Morr," added Dave.
"Ah, indeed!" The fact that Roger's father occupied a high political position seemed to have considerable effect on Philip Chesterfield.
"They are a couple of fakirs!" cried Nick Jasniff. He knew not what else to say.