When asked what he was about, he said that he was preparing sharp javelins to avenge his father.

This answer was not a little scoffed at, all men deriding his idle and ridiculous pursuit; but the thing helped his purpose afterwards.

Now it was his craft in this matter that first awakened in the deeper observers a suspicion of his cunning.

For his skill in a trifling art betokened the hidden talent of the craftsman; nor could they believe the spirit dull where the hand had acquired so cunning a workmanship.

Lastly, he always watched with the most punctual care over his pile of stakes that he had pointed in the fire.