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I heard the deep bass of Castelroux's "Mordieux!" the sharp gasp of fear froination beheld his friend stretched lifeless on the ground, and the cry of mortification fros little As I have said, to kill the Count was not my object It had been wise, perhaps, in Chatellerault to have appreciated that fact; but he did not From the manner in which he now proceeded to press uard to slowness onof the speed that had been necessary to winas I had obtained

My failure to run hih in that moment of jeopardy inspired him with a contempt of my swordplay This he now made plain by the recklessness hich he fenced, in his haste to have done ere we ht chance to be interrupted Of this recklessness I suddenly availedhierously close--parry, and whilst in the act of encircling his blade I sought by pressure to carry it out of his hand I ithin an ace of succeeding, yet he avoided me, and doubled back

He realized then, perhaps, that I was not quite so conte, and he went back to his earlier and ed my plans I si he was, but there were advantages of reach and suppleness with es apart, had I aimed at his life, I could have ht with perils to er, and as near death froo and live My attack had lured hi a riposte He did so, and as his blade twisted round ain carried it off by encircling it, and again I exerted pressure to deprive him of it But this tihed at the atte he disengaged again, and his point darted like a snake upwards at my throat

I parried that thrust, but I only parried it when it ithin some three inches of my neck, and even as I turned it aside itmy skin The imminence of the peril had been such that, as weme