The Grand Duke addressed him unusually graciously, rather in the manner of a teacher who has been scolding a naughty boy, and turns to another with a sudden assumption of mildness.
"I have sent for you, doctor.... I want information from you about this peculiarity in the body of the new-born prince.... I assume that it has not escaped your notice.... I am confronted with a riddle ... an extremely painful riddle.... In a word, I desire your opinion." And the Grand Duke, changing his position, ended with a gracious motion of the hand, which encouraged the doctor to speak.
Dr. Sammet looked at him silently and attentively, as if waiting till the Grand Duke had completely regained his princely composure. Then he said: "Yes; we have here to do with a case which is not of very common occurrence, but which is well known and familiar to us. Yes. It is actually a case of atrophy ..."
"Forgive me, Royal Highness. I mean stunted growth. Yes."
"I see, stunted growth. Stunting. That's it. The left hand is stunted. But it's unheard of! I cannot understand it! Such a thing has never happened in my family! People talk nowadays about heredity."
Again the doctor looked silently and attentively at the lonely and domineering man, to whom the news had only just penetrated that people were talking lately about heredity. He answered simply: "Pardon me, Royal Highness, but in this case there can be no question of heredity."
"Really! You're quite sure!" said the Grand Duke rather mockingly. "That is one satisfaction. But will you be so kind as to tell me what there can be a question of, then."
"With pleasure, Royal Highness. The cause of the malformation is entirely a mechanical one. It has been caused through a mechanical constriction during the development of the embryo. We call such malformations constriction-formations, yes."
The Grand Duke listened with anxious disgust; he obviously feared the effect of each succeeding word on his sensitiveness. He kept his brows knit and his mouth open: the two furrows running down to his beard seemed deeper than ever. He said: "Constriction-formations, ... but how in the world ... I am quite sure every precaution must have been taken ..."
"Constriction-formations," answered Dr. Sammet, "can occur in various ways. But we can say with comparative certainty that in our case ... in this case it is the amnion which is to blame."