cing a "surprising novelty." The judges resumed their
seats, and the public waited expectantly.

Two women appeared, foil in hand and in fencing costume; dark tights, a
very short petticoat half-way to the knee, and a plastron so padded
above the bosom that it obliged them to keep their heads well up. They
were both young and pretty. They smiled as they saluted the spectators,
and were loudly applauded. They fell on guard, amidst murmured
gallantries and whispered jokes. An amiable smile graced the lips of the
judges, who approved the hits with a low "bravo." The public warmly
appreciated this bout, and testified this much to the two combatants,
who kindled desire among the men and awakened among the women the native
taste of the Parisian for graceful indecency, naughty elegance, music
hall singers, and couplets from operettas. Every time that one of the
fencers lunged a thrill of pleasure ran through the public. The one who
turned her back to the seats, a plump back, caused eyes and mouths to
open, and it was not the play of her wrist that was most closely
scanned. They were frantically applauded.

A bout with swords followed, but no one looked at it, for the attention
of all was occupied by what was going on overhead. For some minutes they
had heard the noise of furniture being dragged across the floor, as
though moving was in progress. Then all at once the notes of a piano
were heard, and the rhythmic beat of feet moving in cadence was
distinctly audible. The people above had treated themselves to a dance
to make up for not being able to see anything. A loud laugh broke out at
first among the public in the fencing saloon, and then a wish for a
dance being aroused among the ladies, they ceased to pay attention to
what was taking place on the platform, and began to chatter out loud.
This notion of a ball got up by the late-comers struck them as comical.
They must be amusing themselves nicely, and it must be much better up
there.

But two new combatants had saluted each other and fell on guard in such
masterly style that all eyes followed their movements. They lunged and
recovered themselves with such easy grace, such measured strength, such
certainty, such sobriety in action, such correctness in attitude, such
measure in their play, that even the ignorant were surprised and
charmed. Their calm promptness, their skilled suppleness, their rapid
motions, so nicely timed that they appeared slow, attracted and
captivated