he Master
turned his blade against my bosom; I saw the light run along the steel;
and I threw up my arms and fell to my knees before him on the floor.
"No, no," I cried, like a baby.

"We shall have no more trouble with him," said the Master. "It is a good
thing to have a coward in the house."

"We must have light," said Mr. Henry, as though there had been no
interruption.

"This trembler can bring a pair of candles," said the Master.

To my shame be it said, I was still so blinded with the flashing of that
bare sword that I volunteered to bring a lantern.

"We do not need a l-l-lantern," says the Master, mocking me. "There is
no breath of air. Come, get to your feet, take a pair of lights, and go
before. I am close behind with this"--making the blade glitter as he
spoke.

I took up the candlesticks and went before them, steps that I would give
my hands to recall; but a coward is a slave at the best; and even as I
went, my teeth smote each other in my mouth. It was as he had said:
there was no breath stirring; a windless stricture of frost had bound
the air; and as we went forth in the shine of the candles, the blackness
was like a roof over our heads. Never a word was said; there was never a
sound but the creaking of our steps along the frozen path. The cold of
the night fell about me like a bucket of water; I shook as I went with
more than terror; but my companions, bare-headed like myself, and fresh
from the warm hall, appeared not even conscious of the change.

"Here is the place," said the Master. "Set down the candles."

I did as he bid me, and presently the flames went up, as steady as in a
chamber, in the midst of the frosted trees, and I beheld these two
brothers take their places.

"The light is something in my eyes," said the Master.

"I will give you every advantage," replied Mr. Henry, shifting his
ground, "for I think you are about to die." He spoke rather sadly than
otherwise, yet there was a ring in his voice.

"Henry Durie," said the Master, "two words before I begin. You are a
fencer, you can hold a foil; you little know what a change it makes to
hold a sword! And by that I know you are to fall. But see how strong is
my situation! If you fall, I shift out of this country to where my money
is before me. If I fall, where are you? My father, your wife--who is in
love with me, as you very well know--your child even, who prefers me to
yourself:--how will these avenge me! Had you thought of that