He held him a moment in talk of the sick man above, and outwardly at least he was now entirely composed.

He dispatched him upstairs again upon a trumped-up errand that must keep him absent for some little time, whilst himself he went to get the things he needed.
He returned below with them, and when he had assisted his brother into fresh garments with as little movement as possible so as not to disturb his dressing of the wound or set it bleeding afresh, he took the blood-stained doublet, vest, and shirt which he had ripped and flung them, too, into the great fire.
When some moments later Nicholas entered the vast room he found the brothers sitting composedly at table.

Had he faced Lionel he would have observed little amiss with him beyond the deep pallor of his face.

But he did not even do so much.

Lionel sat with his back to the door and the servant's advance into the room was checked by Sir Oliver with the assurance that they did not require him.