The Marquis led
the attack, impetuously and vigorously, and almost at once
Andre-Louis realized that he had to deal with an opponent of a very
different mettle from those successive duellists of last week, not
excluding La Motte-Royau, of terrible reputation.
Here was a man whom much and constant practice had given
extraordinary speed and a technique that was almost perfect.
In addition, he enjoyed over Andre-Louis physical advantages of
strength and length of reach, which rendered him altogether
formidable. And he was cool, too; cool and self-contained; fearless
and purposeful. Would anything shake that calm, wondered
Andre-Louis?
He desired the punishment to be as full as he could make it. Not
content to kill the Marquis as the Marquis had killed Philippe, he
desired that he should first know himself as powerless to avert
that death as Philippe had been. Nothing less would content
Andre-Louis. M. le Marquis must begin by tasting of that cup of
despair. It was in the account; part of the quittance due.
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