I scarcely felt him and so did not see or feel the point of your joke." "Grandfather's" flush deepened and his smile broadened crookedly.

"Try and do yourself justice, Havlan," he said.

"'Nother dozen.

'Tother way." Sergeant Havlan changed sides and endeavoured to surpass himself.

It was a remarkably sound dozen.
He mopped his brow.
The bad boy did not move, gave no sign, but retained his rigid, slightly hunched attitude, as though he had not counted the second dozen and expected another stroke.
"Let that be a lesson to you to curb your damned tongue," said "Grandfather," his anger evaporating, his pride in the stiff-necked, defiant young rogue increasing.
The boy changed not the rigid, slightly hunched attitude.
"Be pleased to wreck no more of my orchid-houses and to exercise your great wit on your equals and juniors," he added.
Dam budged not an inch and relaxed not a muscle.
"You may go," said "Grandfather"....