"Hm-m-m," muttered Lord Hastings, sizing the two up critically. "And you think you can thrash him, eh?"
"I think so, sir."
"Well, I don't," was the reply. "I have a notion to forbid it."
"Don't, sir," pleaded Frank. "It will have to come some time, and the sooner the better."
Lord Hastings was plainly undecided. But at last he threw open his arms in a gesture of permission.
"Go ahead, then," he said. "I'll stay and see fair play."
Watch in hand, Jack raised an arm. He was silent a moment. Then,
"Go!" he said, "and remember, fight fair!"
The two combatants had sprung forward before the words were out of Jack's mouth, and the latter was obliged to skip nimbly aside to get out of their way.
Davis rushed forward to meet Frank, who advanced more slowly, though with confidence written large on his features. Jack, perceiving this, shook his head sadly.