“Get up, Serge,” said Marcus, letting his hand fall.

“Thankye, my lad. I say, boy, I didn’t think you were so strong.”

“Didn’t you, Serge?”

“No, boy. My word, it’s just as if getting into your armour had stiffened you all over. My word, I wouldn’t ha’ believed that you could fight like you did this morning!”

“I felt hot and excited, Serge, and as if I could do anything.”

“Didn’t feel a bit scared like, though there was six of them?”

“No,” said Marcus, thoughtfully; “I never thought anything about their numbers, only of saving you.”

“Thinking all the time it was someone else, sir?”

“Yes, Serge; that was it.”

“And you fought fine, sir. Seems to me it’s a pity for a youngster like you to be stopping at home unrolling volumes and making scratches with a stylus.”