Oh, he can do it all right.

I--I hate you!" The Duke looked down in amazement into the flushed, writhing face of his little master.

For a moment he was stunned by the vigorous outburst.
Then the hard lines in his face relaxed and a softer expression came into his eyes--there was something like pride in them, too.

The Duke, be it said, was an honest fighter and a loyal Graustarkian; he loved his Prince and, therefore, he gloried in his courage.

His own smile of amusement, which broke in spite of his inordinate vanity, was the sign that brought relief to the hearts of his scandalised _confreres_.
"Your Highness does well in defending a friend and counsellor," he said gently.