At last
Lampourde, who had begun to entertain an immense respect for his valiant
opponent, could restrain his curiosity no longer, and eagerly asked,
"Would it be indiscreet, sir, to inquire who was your instructor?
Girolamo, Paraguante, or Cote d'Acier would have reason to be proud of
such a pupil. Which one of them was it?"
"My only master was an old soldier, Pierre by name," answered de
Sigognac, more and more amused at the oddities of the accomplished
swordsman he was engaged with. "Stay, take that! it is one of his
favourite strokes."
"The devil!" cried Lampourde, falling back a step, "I was very nearly
done for, do you know! The point of your sword actually went through my
sleeve and touched my arm--I felt the cold steel; luckily for me it
was not broad daylight--I should have been winged; but you are not
accustomed, like me, to this dim, uncertain light for such work. All the
same, it was admirably well done, and Jacquemin Lampourde congratulates
you upon it, sir! Now, pay attention, to me--I will not take any mean
advantage of such a glorious foe as you are, and I give you fair warning
that I am going to try on you my own secret and special thrust Captain
Fracasse--the crowning glory of my art, the 'ne plus ultra' of my
science--the elixir of my life.
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