I darkly hinted a threat of "blabbing" myself, as my meanness in telling tales would be as nothing to his in allowing Leo to suffer for his fault.

Which argument prevailed I shall never know.

I fancy Leo's distress and the knife did it between them, for he was both good-natured and greedy.

He told the truth by a great effort, and took his flogging with complete indifference.
Thenceforward Leo and I were as brothers.

He taught me to sketch, we kept divers pets together, and fused our botanical collections.