Then he got into the carriage where Rudolf and Michael were awaiting him; a surgeon followed them in another carriage.
The youths were surprised to observe that the young artisan's face showed no signs of anxiety or trouble, nay, he bore himself as calmly and nonchalantly as if he were used to such situations.
It was still very early when they crossed the bridge leading into the park, where a freshly erected tent was standing.

The youths then told the coachman to stop, and asked Alexander whether he would not like a little breakfast first of all.
"No, thank you," he replied.

"People might say I wanted something to put pluck into me.

Let us say afterwards--if an afterwards there be!" he added lightly, and in the best of humours.
They proceeded onwards through the wood to the spot agreed upon, and they had not waited more than a few moments before their antagonists also arrived upon the ground.
It was a cloudy, gloomy morning, and there was an expression of gloomy _sang-froid_ on the faces of the young men which suited very well with the morning.
The enemy, smiling, and with nonchalant haughtiness, came strolling arm in arm through the silver poplar woods--Abellino, the large-limbed Conrad, and Livius.

A surgeon and a servant brought up the rear.
The four seconds went apart and conversed together in a low voice; they were evidently arranging the details of the affair.