Come,
my man, own up frankly that you were afraid of that same de Sigognac."
"Jacquemin Lampourde has never been afraid of anybody in his life," the
fighting man replied, drawing himself up haughtily, "and no adversary
has ever seen his back. Those who know me will tell your lordship that
easy victories have no charm for me. I love danger and court it. I
take positive delight in it. I attacked the Baron de Sigognac 'secundum
artem,' and with one of my very best swords--made by Alonzo de Sahagun,
the elder, of Toledo."
"Well, and what happened then?" said the young duke eagerly. "It would
seem that you could not have been victorious, since you wish to refund
this money, which was to pay you for despatching him."
"First let me inform your highness that in the course of my duels and
combats, of one sort and another, I have left no less than thirty-seven
men stretched dead upon the ground--and that without counting in all
those I have wounded mortally or crippled for life. But this Baron
de Sigognac intrenched himself within a circle of flashing steel
as impenetrable as the walls of a granite fortress. I called into
requisition all the resources of my art against him, and tried in
every possible way to surprise him off his guard, but he was ready for
everything--as quick as a flash, as firm as a rock--he parried every
thrust triumphantly, magnificently, with the most consummate science,
and a grace and ease I have never seen equalled.
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