as good and honest!

I had scarce felt his Lordship's wrist than I knew I had to deal with a
pupil of Angelo. At first his attacks were all simple, without feint
or trickery, as were mine. Collinson cursed and cried out that it was
buffoonery, and called on my Lord not to let me off so easily; swore
that I fenced like a mercer, that he could have stuck me like a
pin-cushion twenty and twenty times. Often have I seen two animals
thrust into a pit with nothing but good-will between them, and those
without force them into anger and a deadly battle. And so it was,
unconsciously, between Comyn and me. I forgot presently that I was not
dealing with Captain Collinson, and my feelings went into my sword.
Comyn began to press me, nor did I give back. And then, before it came
over me that we had to do with life and death, he was upon me with a
volte coupe, feinting in high carte and thrusting in low tierce, his
point passing through a fold in my shirt. And I were not alive to write
these words had I not leaped out of his measure.

"Bravo, Richard!" cried Fotheringay.

"Well made, gads life!" from Mr. Furness.

We engaged again, our faces hot. Now I knew that if I did not carry the
matter against him I should be killed out of hand, and Heaven knows
I was not used to play a passive part. I began to go carefully, but
fiercely; tried one attack after another that my grandfather and Captain
Daniel had taught me,--flanconnades, beats, and lunges. Comyn held me
even, and in truth I had much to do to defend myself. Once I thought I
had him in the sword-arm, after a circular parry, but he was too quick
for me. We were sweating freely by now, and by reason of the buzzing in
my ears I could scarce hear the applause of the seconds.

What unlucky chance it was I know not that impelled Comyn to essay again
the trick by which he had come so near to spitting me; but try it
he did, this time in prime and seconde. I had come by nature to that
intuition which a true swordsman must have, gleaned from the eyes of
his adversary. Long ago Captain Daniel had taught me the remedy for this
coupe. I parried, circled, and straightened, my body in swift motion and
my point at Comyn's heart, when Heaven brought me recollection in the
space of a second. My sword rang clattering on the floor.

His Lordship understood, but too late. Despairing his life, he made one
wild lunge at me that had never gone home had I held to my hilt. But the
rattle of the blade