下载辰思小说免费APP
“Dowetakeoffourcoats？“saidPhilippetohisadversarycoldly。
“Ofcourse，“answeredMaxence，withtheassumptionofabully。
Theydidso；therosytintsoftheirskinappearingthroughthecambricoftheirshirts。Each，armedwithacavalrysabreselectedofequalweight，aboutthreepounds，andequallength，threefeet，placedhimselfathisownline，thepointofhisweaponontheground，awaitingthesignal。Bothweresocalmthat，inspiteofthecold，theirmusclesquiverednomorethaniftheyhadbeenmadeofiron。
Goddet，thefourseconds，andthetwosoldiersfeltaninvoluntaryadmiration。
“Theyareaproudpair！“
TheexclamationcamefromPotel。
Justasthesignalwasgiven，MaxcaughtsightofFario’ssinisterfacelookingatthemthroughtheholewhichtheKnightsofIdlenesshadmadeforthepigeonsintheroofofthechurch。Thoseeyes，whichsentforthstreamsoffire，hatred，andrevenge，dazzledMaxforamoment。Thecolonelwentstraighttohisadversary，andputhimselfonguardinawaythatgainedhimanadvantage。Expertsintheartofkilling，knowthat，oftwoantagonists，theablesttakesthe“insideofthepavement，“——touseanexpressionwhichgivesthereaderatangibleideaoftheeffectofagoodguard。Thatpose，whichisinsomedegreeobservant，markssoplainlyaduellistofthefirstrankthatafeelingofinferioritycameintoMax’ssoul，andproducedthesamedisarrayofpowerswhichdemoralizesagamblerwhen，inpresenceofamasteroraluckyhand，heloseshisself-possessionandplayslesswellthanusual。
“Ah！thelascar！“thoughtMax，“he’sanexpert；I’mlost！“
Heattempteda“moulinet，“andtwirledhissabrewiththedexterityofasingle-stick。HewantedtobewilderPhilippe，andstrikehisweaponsoastodisarmhim；butatthefirstencounterhefeltthatthecolonel’swristwasiron，withtheflexibilityofasteelstring。
Maxencewasthenforced，unfortunatefellow，tothinkofanothermove，whilePhilippe，whoseeyesweredartinggleamsthatweresharperthantheflashoftheirblades，parriedeveryattackwiththecoolnessofafencing-masterwearinghisplastroninanarmory。
Betweentwomenofthecalibreofthesecombatants，thereoccursaphenomenonverylikethatwhichtakesplaceamongthelowerclasses，duringtheterribletusslecalled“thesavante，“whichisfoughtwiththefeet，asthenameimplies。Victorydependsonafalsemovement，onsomeerrorofthecalculation，rapidaslightning，whichmustbemadeandfollowedalmostinstinctively。Duringaperiodoftimeasshorttothespectatorsasitseemslongtothecombatants，thecontestliesinobservation，sokeenastoabsorbthepowersofmindandbody，andyetconcealedbypreparatoryfeintswhoseslownessandapparentprudenceseemtoshowthattheantagonistsarenotintendingtofight。Thismoment，whichisfollowedbyarapidanddecisivestruggle，isterribletoaconnoisseur。AtabadparryfromMaxthecolonelsentthesabrespinningfromhishand。
“Pickitup，“hesaid，pausing；“Iamnotthemantokilladisarmedenemy。“
Therewassomethingatrociousinthegrandeurofthesewords；theyseemedtoshowsuchconsciousnessofsuperioritythattheonlookerstookthemforashrewdcalculation。Infact，whenMaxreplacedhimselfinposition，hehadlosthiscoolness，andwasoncemoreconfrontedwithhisadversary’sraisedguardwhichdefendedthecolonel’swholepersonwhileitmenacedhis。Heresolvedtoredeemhisshamefuldefeatbyaboldstroke。Henolongerguardedhimself，buttookhissabreinbothhandsandrushedfuriouslyonhisantagonist，resolvedtokillhim，ifhehadtolosehisownlife。Philippereceivedasabre-cutwhichslashedopenhisforeheadandapartofhisface，buthecleftMax’sheadobliquelybytheterriblesweepofa“moulinet，“madetobreaktheforceoftheannihilatingstrokeMaxa
