Then,
when victory was in my hand disaster overtook me, for the woman, who had
been watching bewildered, saw that her faithless lover was in danger of
death and straightway seized me from behind, at the same time sending
up shriek after shriek for help. I shook her from me quickly enough,
but not before de Garcia, seeing his advantage, had dealt me a coward's
thrust that took me in the right shoulder and half crippled me, so that
in my turn I must stand on my defence if I would keep my life in me.
Meanwhile the shrieks had been heard, and of a sudden the watch came
running round the corner whistling for help. De Garcia saw them, and
disengaging suddenly, turned and ran for the water-gate, the lady also
vanishing, whither I do not know.
Now the watch was on me, and their leader came at me to seize me,
holding a lantern in his hand. I struck it with the handle of the sword,
so that it fell upon the roadway, where it blazed up like a bonfire.
Then I turned also and fled, for I did not wish to be dragged before
the magistrates of the city as a brawler, and in my desire to escape I
forgot that de Garcia was escaping also. Away I went and three of the
watch after me, but they were stout and scant of breath, and by the
time that I had run three furlongs I distanced them. I halted to get my
breath and remembered that I had lost de Garcia and did not know when I
should find him again.
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