It is known only to myself, and up to
this time has been infallible. I have never failed to kill my man
with it. If you can parry it I will teach it to you. It is my only
possession, and I will leave it to you if you survive it; otherwise I
will take my secret to the grave with me. I have never yet found any
one capable of executing it, unless indeed it be yourself--admirable,
incomparable swordsman that you are! It is a joy to meet such an one.
But suppose we suspend hostilities a moment to take breath."
So saying Jacquemin Lampourde lowered the point of his sword, and de
Sigognac did the same. They stood eyeing each other for a few moments
with mutual admiration and curiosity, and then resumed the contest more
fiercely than ever--each man doing his best, as he had need to do,
and enjoying it. After a few passes, de Sigognac became aware that his
adversary was preparing to give the decisive blow, and held himself
on his guard against a surprise; when it came, delivered with terrible
force, he parried it so successfully that Lampourde's sword was broken
short off in the encounter with his own trusty weapon, leaving only the
hilt and a few inches of the blade in his hand.
"If you have not got the rest of my sword in your body," cried
Lampourde, excitedly, "you are a great man!--a hero!--a god!"
"No," de Sigognac replied calmly, "it did not touch me; and now, if
I chose, I could pin you to the wall like a bat; but that would be
repugnant to me, though you did waylay me to take my life, and besides,
you have really amused me with your droll sayings.
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