due elsewhere, and we are late already.'

Still he hesitated. Still he looked at the man lying at his feet--who
had stretched himself out and passed, quietly enough, a minute
before--and stood dubious, the most pitiable picture of cowardice
and malice--he being ordinarily a stout man--I ever saw. I called him
poltroon and white-feather, and was considering whether I had not better
go down to him, seeing that our time must be up, and Simon would be
quitting his post, when a cry behind me caused me to turn, and I saw
that mademoiselle was no longer looking through the opening in the door.

Alarmed on her behalf, as I reflected that there might be other doors to
the room, and the men have other accomplices in the house, I sprang to
the door to see, but had basely time to send a single glance round-the
interior--which showed me only that the room was still occupied--before
Fresnoy, taking advantage of my movement and of my back being turned,
dashed up the stairs, with his comrade at his heels, and succeeded in
pinning me into the narrow passage where I stood.

I had scarcely time, indeed, to turn and put myself on guard before he
thrust at me. Nor was that all. The superiority in position no longer
lay with me. I found myself fighting between walls close to the opening
in the door, through which the light fell athwart my eyes, baffling and
perplexing me. Fresnoy was not slow to see the aid this gave him, and
pressed me hard and desperately; so that we played for a full minute at
close quarters, thrusting and parrying, neither of us having room to use
the edge, or time to utter word or prayer.

At this game we were so evenly matched that for a time the end was hard
to tell. Presently, however, there came a change. My opponent's habit
of wild living suited ill with a prolonged bout, and as his strength and
breath failed and he began to give ground I discerned I had only to wear
him out to have him at my mercy. He felt this himself, and even by that
light I saw the sweat spring in great drops to his forehead, saw the
terror grow in his eyes. Already I was counting him a dead man and the
victory mine, when something hashed behind his blade, and his comrade's
poniard, whizzing past his shoulder, struck me fairly on the chin,
staggering me and hurling me back dizzy and half-stunned, uncertain what
had happened to me.

Sped an inch lower it, would have done its work and finished mine. Even
as it was, my hand going up as I ree