He had been there before....
The dozen were indeed of the Sergeant's best and he was a master.

The boy turned not a hair, though he turned a little pale....

His mouth grew extraordinarily like that of his grandfather and a little muscular pulse beat beneath his cheek-bone.
"And what do you think of _my_ pleasantries, my young friend ?" inquired Grandfather.

"Feeling at all witty _now_ ?" "Havlan is failing a bit, Sir," was the cool reply.

"I have noticed it at fencing too--Getting old--or beer perhaps.