"Stay, take that! it is one of his favourite strokes." "The devil!" cried Lampourde, falling back a step, "I was very nearly done for, do you know! The point of your sword actually went through my sleeve and touched my arm--I felt the cold steel; luckily for me it was not broad daylight--I should have been winged; but you are not accustomed, like me, to this dim, uncertain light for such work.

All the same, it was admirably well done, and Jacquemin Lampourde congratulates you upon it, sir! Now, pay attention, to me--I will not take any mean advantage of such a glorious foe as you are, and I give you fair warning that I am going to try on you my own secret and special thrust Captain Fracasse--the crowning glory of my art, the 'ne plus ultra' of my science--the elixir of my life.

It is known only to myself, and up to this time has been infallible.

I have never failed to kill my man with it.

If you can parry it I will teach it to you.