Experience was teaching
him, while yet a boy, to speak softly.
"The young aide of whom you speak," he said, "would never think of
mentioning such a matter to the colonel, of whom you also speak, and
even if he should, the colonel wouldn't listen to him for a moment."
Watson shrugged his shoulders slightly, but made no other gesture of
displeasure.
"Doubtless you are well informed about this aide and this colonel,"
he said, "but it's a pity. If more food is thrown to the sparrows than
they can eat, is it any harm for other birds to eat the remainder?"
"I scarcely regard it as a study in ornithology."
"Ornithology? That's a big word, but I suppose it will serve. We'll
drop the matter, and if at any time my words here should be quoted I'll
promptly deny them. It's a bad thing for a boy to have his statements
disputed by a man of years who can command wealth and other powerful
influences. Unless he had witnesses nobody would believe the boy.
I tell you this, my lad, partly for your own good, because I'm inclined
to like you."
Dick stared. There was nothing insulting in the man's tone.
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