turn, but so agile was I that I escaped
capture, although my position in regard to the chairs was twice
reversed. We performed a series of nimble manoeuvres which were
characterized on my part by a high degree of strategy. But I found the
rampart of chairs an untenable place. I was again obliged hurriedly to
retreat, this time taking up a position behind a large table.

"Madam," I said desperately, "believe me, you are suffering under a
grave misapprehension."

"Again he talks of misapprehension!"

We revolved once swiftly around the table; she stopped, panting.

"And this is the blusterer! And why do you not stand your ground,
coward?"

"Madam," said I with more coolness now that I saw she would soon be
losing her wind, "I would esteem it very ungallant behaviour if I
endured your attack for even a brief moment. My forefathers form a
brave race which always runs away from the ladies."

After this speech we revolved twice around the table. I must in all
candour say that the Countess used language which would not at all
suit the pages of my true and virtuous chronicle; but indeed it was no
worse than I often heard afterward from the great ladies of the time.
However, the talk was not always addressed to me, thank the Saints!

After we had made the two revolutions, I spoke reasonably. "Madam,"
said I, "if we go spinning about the table in this fashion for any
length of time, these gawking spectators will think we are a pair of
wheels."

"Spectators!" she cried, lifting her old head high. She beheld about
seventy-five interested people. She called out loudly to them:

"And is there no gentleman among you all to draw his sword and beat me
this rascal from the inn?"

Nobody moved.

"Madam," said I, still reasonable, "would it not be better to avoid a
possible scandal by discontinuing these movements, as the tongues of
men are not always fair, and it might be said by some--"

Whereupon we revolved twice more around the table.

When the old pelican stopped, she had only enough breath left to
impartially abuse all the sight-seers. As her eye fixed upon them,
The O'Ruddy, illustrious fighting-man, saw his chance and bolted like
a hare. The escape must have formed a great spectacle, but I had no
time for appearances. As I was passing out of the door, the Countess,
in her disappointed rage, threw a heavy ivory fan after me, which
struck an innocent bystander in the eye, for which he apologized.

CHAPTER XI