And to Brice's memory came a wise old adage: "When you think a man is lying to you, don't watch his face.
Any poker-player can make his face a mask.

Watch his hands.
Ten to one, if he is lying, he'll clench them." Brice noted the tightening of the heavy fists.

And he was convinced.

Yet, he told himself, in disgust, that even a child of six would scarce have needed such confirmation that the clumsily blurted tale was a lie.
He nodded again, as Milo looked at him with a shade of anxiety.
The momentary silence was broken by footsteps on the stairs.
Claire was descending.

Brice gathered his feet under him and sat upright.