Page 124 (1/1)

After that, I resolved to abandon the attempt to disar hiht lend itself to seizure But even as I was ed in sixte at the time--I saw a sudden chance His point was held lohile he watched me; so low that his arm was uncovered and , to estimate it, and to take my resolve was all the work of a fraction of a second The next instant I had straightenedstroke and transfixed his sword-arrowl of fury, as, wounded but not vanquished, the enraged Count caught his falling sword in his left hand, and whilst ht arh I leapt quickly aside, and then, before he could renew the attempt, my friends had fallen upon him and wrenched his sword from his hand and mine from his arm

It would ill have becoht I now have explained to him what I had meant when I had proh I did consent to fight hi around me, but I paid no heed either to Castelroux's patois or to La Fosse's misquotations of classic authors The combat had been protracted, and thenature I leaned now against the porte-cochere, and ed in binding up his principal's arm, called to La Fosse

I followed my second with my eyes as he went across to Chatellerault The Count stood white, his lips co him Then his voice floated across to me as he addressed La Fosse

"You will do me the favour, monsieur, to inform your friend that this was no first blood combat, but one a outrance I fence as ith ht, and if Monsieur de Bardelys will do ain, I shall esteee that already we had heard

"I fought," said I in answer, "in a spirit very different from that by which Monsieur de Chatellerault appears to have been actuated He e That proof I have afforded; I decline to do more Moreover, as Monsieur de Chatellerault hi us, and in a few minutes it will be too dark for sword-play"