They showed the most barbarous indifference to the noble art of attack and defense--came by twos and threes, looked at my gallery, and never returned.

My small means began to fail me.

After paying my expenses, I was really at my wits' end to find a few pounds to go on with, in the hope of better days.
One gentleman, I remember, who came to see me, and who behaved most liberally.
He described himself as an American, and said he had traveled a great deal.

As my ill luck would have it, he stood in no need of my instructions.

On the two or three occasions when he amused himself with my foils and my pistols, he proved to be one of the most expert swordsmen and one of the finest shots that I ever met with.