ke in the tones of my voice.

"Dare I?" repeated Montreuil, sinking and sharpening his voice into
a sort of inward screech. "Dare I!--ay, were your whole tribe arrayed
against me. Give me the letter, or you will find me now and forever your
most deadly foe; deadly--ay--deadly, deadly!" and he shook his clenched
hand at me, with an expression of countenance so malignant and menacing
that I drew back involuntarily, and laid my hand on my sword.

The action seemed to give Montreuil a signal for which he had hitherto
waited. "Draw then," he said through his teeth, and unsheathed his
rapier.

Though surprised at his determination, I was not backward in meeting
it. Thrusting the letter in my bosom, I drew my sword in time to parry a
rapid and fierce thrust. I had expected easily to master Montreuil,
for I had some skill at my weapon: I was deceived; I found him far more
adroit than myself in the art of offence; and perhaps it would have
fared ill for the hero of this narrative had Montreuil deemed it wise to
direct against my life all the science he possessed. But the moment our
swords crossed, the constitutional coolness of the man, which rage or
fear had for a brief time banished, returned at once, and he probably
saw that it would be as dangerous to him to take away the life of
his pupil as to forfeit the paper for which he fought. He, therefore,
appeared to bend all his efforts towards disarming me. Whether or not he
would have effected this it is hard to say, for my blood was up, and any
neglect of my antagonist, in attaining an object very dangerous, when
engaged with a skilful and quick swordsman, might have sent him to
the place from which the prayers of his brethren have (we are bound
to believe) released so many thousands of souls. But, meanwhile, the
servants, who at first thought the clashing of swords was the wanton
sport of some young gallants as yet new to the honour of wearing them,
grew alarmed by the continuance of the sound, and flocked hurriedly
to the place of contest. At their intrusion we mutually drew back.
Recovering my presence of mind (it was a possession I very easily lost
at that time), I saw the unseemliness of fighting with my preceptor, and
a priest. I therefore burst, though awkwardly enough, into a laugh, and,
affecting to treat the affair as a friendly trial of skill between the
Abbe and myself, resheathed my sword and dismissed the intruders, who,
evidently disbelieving my version of the