fman as he spoke and entered the room, where he
immediately busied himself in the examination of some of the weapons
displayed there, and apparently ignoring Halfman's existence. Halfman
watched him with a scowl for a moment and then followed him into the
room.

"Your honor," he said--"since you will not be called worship--your
honor really has a use for these toys of gentlefolk?"

Evander had taken a handsome Italian rapier from its case against the
wall, and, after glancing at its blade, was weighing and testing the
weapon in the air. As he gave Halfman no answer, the latter took up
the talk again, provocatively:

"I cannot deny that your honor showed fight briskly enough yester
evening, but then it seemed little less than fight or die, and even a
rat, if you corner him, will snap for dear life. Moreover, you were
well ambushed, and there was a gentle lady present who would not see
a rat butchered unnecessarily."

Evander, still weighing the fine Italian blade, turned to Halfman and
addressed him with an exasperating composure.

"Friend," he said, "I have told you that I am not unacquainted with
arms. When I am a free man I enforce belief in my word. As it is--"

He left his sentence uncompleted, and with a contemptuous shrug of
his shoulders proceeded on his journey round the room, still carrying
the Italian rapier in his hand. Under his tan Halfman's face blazed
and his eyes glittered, but he spoke with a forced calm and a feigned
civility:

"Say you so much? Why, I believe your honor, surely. Yet, as they
say, seeing is believing, and if you are in the vein for a gentle and
joyous passage with buttoned arms, I that am here to entertain your
honor would not for the world's width gainsay you."

Evander eyed him quietly. "Are you ready at fence?" he inquired. "I
shall be pleased to take a lesson from you."

Halfman's heart warmed at his words. "The coney creeps towards the
gin," he thought, exultantly; then he answered, aloud:

"Why, if you have a stomach for it you shall not be crossed. Here be
two buttoned rapiers, true twins--length, weight, workmanship. I will
beleather them in a twink. I promise you I would not hurt your
honor."

"You are very good," Evander answered, gravely. Halfman was already
busy tying two large pads of leather the size of small oranges onto
the buttoned blades. While he was at work Evander occupied himself
with the contents of the room until Halfman, having finished his job,