The seconds then compared the lengths, and found almost half an inch in favor of my opponent.

Which being declared, and I offering no objection, the discrepancy was allowed and the swords returned us to fall to.
And this without further parley we did.
I was no ways afraid of my opponent.

For though a pretty enough, tricky fighter, he had little practical experience.

Also he had quite failed to strengthen himself by daily custom, and especially by practice at outrauce, with an enemy keen to run you through in front of you, and the necessity of keeping a wary eye on half a dozen other conflicts on either hand, as has constantly to be done in war.
The place where we fought was on a level green platform a little way above the roofs of the inn of the Hirschgasse, where many a similar conflict has been fought, and on which many a good fellow has lain, panting like a grassed trout, with the gasps growing slower and deadlier, while his opponent wiped his blade on the trampled herbage, and the seconds looked on with folded arms.

There were many bushes and rocks about, and the place was very secluded to be so near a great city.
At first I did not trouble myself much, nor attempt to force the fighting.