“Very well,” I said, with half a sigh.
“You have nothing to fear,” he whispered, that Astic might not hear him.
“I do fear nothing, Nikolitch,” I said, with a smile; and his face brightened at the smile.
As soon as they came the four seconds busied themselves in settling the preliminaries and then Nikolitch introduced a fifth man to me.
“Doctor Astic, the Captain’s brother, Bergwyn.”
We shook hands and the doctor had a steady look into my eyes. “It’s a chilly morning although so bright—but we get them here sometimes,” he said.
“Any morning’s good enough for this sort of thing,” I answered; and he had another stare at me and then put down his case of instruments on the tree where I had been sitting.
“Will you get ready, Mr. Bergwyn?” asked Captain Astic.
I saw the Prince already had his coat off and I made ready, the Captain meanwhile pointing out the positions we were to take with cheerful but professional coolness.
As they placed us, I saw the mark of my blow on the Prince’s face and I noticed also that he was none too steady on his feet. I called Nikolitch to me and pointed this out.