"
"With all my heart," the marquis replied; "we could not do better."
The chevalier was superior to the Marquis de Bruyeres in the noble art
of fencing, and after a few passes had sent the latter's sword flying
out of his hand. As no enmity existed between them, they stopped there
by mutual consent, and turned their attention again to de Sigognac and
Vallombreuse. The duke, sore pressed by the close play of the baron,
had fallen back several feet from his original position. He was becoming
weary, and beginning to draw panting breaths. From time to time, as
their swords clashed violently together, bluish sparks flew from them;
but the defence was growing perceptibly weaker, and de Sigognac was
steadily forcing the duke to give way before his attack. When he saw the
state of affairs, the Chevalier de Vidalinc turned very pale, and began
to feel really anxious for his friend, who was so evidently getting the
worst of it.
"Why the devil doesn't he try that wonderful thrust he learned from
Girolamo of Naples?" murmured he. "This confounded Gascon cannot
possibly know anything about that."
As if inspired by the same thought, the young duke did, at that very
moment, try to put it into execution; but de Sigognac, aware of what he
was preparing to do, not only prevented but anticipated him, and touched
and wounded his adversary in the arm--his sword going clean through it.
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