“Well, boy; do you like your life here in the castle?”
“Oh yes,” cried Denis; “but when are we to have, Carrbroke and I, another fencing lesson?”
“At any time when the King does not require my services,” said Leoni, smiling. “Why, you will soon be a better swordsman than I.”
“Oh, sir!” cried Denis deprecatingly.
“Well, say as good, my dear boy, when you know all that I can teach you.”
“And you will teach me all, sir?”
“Of course, of course,” said the doctor, laying his hand caressingly on the boy’s shoulder. “You are a pupil of whom I feel proud. But tell me,” he continued, as he passed his hand softly along the muscles of the lad’s arm, “what about the stiffness and pain?”
“All gone, sir. That salve you applied seemed to make it pass entirely away.”
“That is good,” said the doctor, nodding his head. “But tell me, boy, was I speaking aloud when I came into the room?”
“Not aloud, sir, but just so that I could hear what you said.”