Lennox,
since youth, with the hot blood of battle pulsing in its veins, may
think too late of mercy. But Robert remembered. His revenge was already
complete. All had seen the pallid face of de Mezy, and all, whether
they knew anything of the sword or not, knew that he lay at the mercy of
his foe.

"Strike and make an end!" gasped de Mezy.

The sword flashed before his eyes again, but the blade did not touch
him. Instead his own sword was torn from his weakening grasp, and was
flung far upon the grass. Young Lennox, turning away, sheathed his
weapon.

"Well done, Robert!" said Willet.

De Mezy put his hand to his face, which was wet with perspiration, and
steadied himself. He had grown quite dizzy in the last few moments, and
the pulses in his head beat so heavily that he could neither see nor
think well. He was conscious that he stood unarmed before a victorious
foe, but he did not know Robert had put away his sword.

"Why don't you strike?" he muttered.

"Mr. Lennox is satisfied," said Nemours. "He does not wish the combat to
go further."

"Unless Captain de Mezy insists on another trial," said de Galisonniere,
smiling a little, "but if he will take the advice of a countryman of his
he will let the matter rest where it is. Enough has been done to satisfy
the honor of everybody."

He and Nemours exchanged significant glances. It was quite evident to de
Mezy's seconds that he was no match for Robert, and that another trial
would probably result in greater disaster, so Nemours and Le Moyne, in
behalf of their principal, promptly announced that they were satisfied,
and de Galisonniere and Glandelet said as much for theirs. Meanwhile
Monsieur Berryer and the other spectators, who had now risen to the
number of two score, continued to watch from the shelter of the trees.
They had seen the result with protruding eyes, but they had not
understood when the young victor thrust his sword back in its sheath.
They could not hear the talk, but it was quite clear that the duel was
over, and they turned away, somewhat disappointed that one of their own
had lost the combat, but somewhat pleased, too, that he had not lost his
own life at the same time.

"Shake hands, gentlemen," said de Galisonniere blithely. "Although no
blood was shed it was a hot battle and I hope when you two meet again it
will be in friendship and not in enmity. You are a fine swordsman,
Lennox, and it was honorable of you, de Mezy, when you didn't know