The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26
At the Sale D'ArnleS

1AU Ul1O OSt11O ~ x41 A1AO0
| NJ Beaujals. maitre d'armes. having Civ
en- you so stern and excellent q lesson In
! ''the fencing that you could with difficulty
| see out of your eyes would. in order to
| create a short breathing space, spin sto-
| ries-some true, some untrue, many with
point. and all without moral. AS thus:
lie Capitaine Larne-yes. he was the
worst fencer in my school, particularly. as
1 recollect. at the time OF which l am
speaking Always his mustsche grew finer.
but not his workmanship. 1t explained
itself one afternoon VIXEN he ctrme Own
to sale very beaming. ard 1t was generally
known that he had recently become be-
trother to a very beautiful lady. You
younger will be able to indicate why 1t is
at this period that mans sword arm Is
stiff. Naturally, he received the urmJN
felicitation, for he was of a good temper
and popularity beyond words. Still. hap
pened to hear NJ Constants little rat Of
, civilian Che had been most assduous
with the epee for some weeks pasD say to
him with an air that anyone less happy
/ than NJ lie Capitaine would have taken for
| impertinence:
II have not yet congratulated you on
| your good fortune"
| 'Ah. what need?" said lie Capitaine. in
( his lazy good-natured way. Il protest
that all my friends are OF an overwhelming
kindness. L perceive your congratulations
in your eye. monsieur
You younger will be able to explain why
at this period g man sees so many things
that are not obvious. To me 1t seemed as
II VI. Constants eye was like that Of vi
cious horse. but he neither assented nor
contradicted.
shall we have turn together with the
epee?" he asked shortly.
NJ lie Capitaine agreed, aid they were
soon pitted against each other for a bout
OF five. There were many fencing in the
sale. and | was myself instructing d pu.
pill. but nv ears are accustomed to hear
/ things through the clat of the steel.
"Touche," admitted lie Capitaine, in .
very short time Again and yet again he
was touched-the last time with stroke
that would have dissected his lungs.
TOUCHED ne called
That is for the fifth time, is 1t notr'
said N. Constant
at is true said NJ. lie Captaine, laugh
ing.
Yesterday it was the same" continued
NJ. Constant. Five touches to nothing"
~ a. ( i.ASS'osiDANs SOIL eHS VtACAs A1-
moring him.
Also for several weeks past"
the little man pursued in an even voice,
''our bouts have ended themselves in he
same manner"
Exactly the same" admitted lie Capt.
tame, again laughing. 81 am no match for
you. l would not stand against you In
earnest for the world"
And yet" said Constant-and a sheer
came into mis- yoice-'M. lie Capitaine Larns
would sooner fight me than be publicly
announced coward2''
At that NJ lie Captaine took him up
Quickly enough. What is your meaning,
monsieur he said
A little while ago." said Constant Il
observed that l had not yet congratulated
NJ. lie Captaine on his good fortune
"WeH?' =
Il do not intend to-
1T can be dispensed with said ie Cap
tame. smiling contemptuously.
For this reason" went on the little
man. insultiRgly, that 1 consider the for
tune too good for-shaH We say-so cIurl-
sy fencer? / do not. 1t is understood
quarrel with lie Captaine's good taste; on
the contrary l propose myself to console
ma'mselle in the event Of the unexpected
loss Of NJ. de Capitaine.''
could have shaken the little man. Here
he had been practicing with the epee foe
weeks past out Of jealousy. in order that he
might force duel on VI. lie Capitaine and
come out himself unhur.. For a moment
l feared lie Capitaine would actually shake
him. for he made step toward him with
so angry a face that the little man shrank
back in terror. But he restrained himself,
no doubt from consideration Of my feelings
and the convenances Of the sale, and only
said
Il shall have much pleasure in asking
my friend to arrange meeting between
monsieur and myself
And he retired. drawing himself together
as he passed NJ Constant as. though to
touch him were an abomination. AS for
myself. I murmured with reference to the
little raD "Assassini" Further, seeing
that NJ. le Capitaine was with me great
favorite, I permitted myself, as NJ. Con.
slant passed by to scrape up friend Che
had few), TO say in a sufficiently loud
voice. as If answering some question put
me by my pupfli
who is, in my opinion. you ask, best
with the epee Of those that attend my
salle?"
My pupil stared. as we'll he might, but
NJ Constant pricked up his ears.
IT do not In general" proceeded,
make distinctions. but without doubt"
Mr.. Constant stopped TO listen.
without Doubt said deliberately,
sit Is NJ. is Capitaine Larne.'
But" put in NJ. Constant, excitedly,
IT have Just touched him five times to
nothing In = bout"
"Ah. monsieur" said smilir ely. "as-
suredly you also are becoming an excel
lent fencsr. Your practice is most COM
mendabls, but here IL the stlls N. 10
Capitaius plays-he does not exert his
skill. In a duelI"-I shrugged my shoul-
ders-'I myself should not care to meet
him."
It WAS lie. but how much better lie
than an assassination I perceived that
NJ. Constant departed in great haste, and
slmost I could VOW that his teeth chat
tered as hs went. What happenedf
1t was reported that NJ. ls Capitafns
was much enraged to be kept waiting in
the morning. for his bravery was indubi-
table. But 1t appeared that NJ. Constant
had conceived so pressing an admiration
for the colonies that he felt himself com,
PEELED TO leave for Tonquin by the night
train. He was little ra:.-CornhiIl Maga-
zine.
Value of the Marine Corps.
tba