He feared to fight with me since, as I learned
afterwards, he believed that he would meet his end at my hand, and it
was for this reason chiefly that he strove to kill me when first we met.
'The duello has its laws, senor,' he said courteously. 'It is not usual
to fight thus unseconded and in the presence of a woman. If you believe
that you have any grievance against me--though I know not of what you
rave, or the name by which you call me--I will meet you where and when
you will.' And all the while he looked over his shoulder seeking some
way of escape.
'You will meet me now,' I answered. 'Draw or I strike!'
Then he drew, and we fell to it desperately enough, till the sparks
flew, indeed, and the rattle of steel upon steel rang down the quiet
street. At first he had somewhat the better of me, for my hate made me
wild in my play, but soon I settled to the work and grew cooler. I meant
to kill him--more, I knew that I should kill him if none came between
us. He was still a better swordsman than I, who, till I fought with him
in the lane at Ditchingham, had never even seen one of these Spanish
rapiers, but I had the youth and the right on my side, as also I had an
eye like a hawk's and a wrist of steel.
Slowly I pressed him back, and ever my play grew closer and better and
his became wilder. Now I had touched him twice, once in the face, and I
held him with his back against the wall of the way that led down to the
water-gate, and it had come to this, that he scarcely strove to thrust
at me at all, but stood on his defence waiting till I should tire.
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