Warren sheaf., 1901-07-11
me q paper IN which was required /
or ordered To relinnuish All cla;na

INC q, pupCA IL W1I4SA W1o 1cQulTGu
or ordered to reinquish all claims
to the hand Of -
-"Sire," interposed the duke, sshe
misstates '-5 III
Never mind" broke in the en-
peror, with an authoritative wave Of
the hand, eve will hear nothing
about the lady here. Why did you:
strike the count ?''
Because, sire, he descended from.
his station and struck me. He
threw away the shield which should
protect the nobleman and struck
me without provocation." S
''And then you knocked him
down ?" D.
ri did, sire" Ii
"And perhaps you would have
done the same to me- @
''Sire;" answered the youth quick
ly, when Damonoff tried by threats.
to make me sign his paper I told.
him there was but one man on
earth at whose order I would do,
that thing. The man who has the
right to command shall never have
occasion to strike me-"
There was something in this reply
and more in the tone and bearing Of
him who spoke it that made the.
duke tremble. He saw plainly that
the emperor's eyes sparkled with ad-.
miration as they rested upon the
gunmaker. ""# Is
"But now about this duel" re-
sumed the emperor. <tHow dared
you take advantage of the count in
the conflict ?" ~
advantage, sire?" repeated the
youth in surprise. y
"Aye. Did he not, Stephen Ur-s
zen?" Is
<FHe did, SIRE" replied the man
thus addressed.
fAnd which of the two do you call
the best swordsman % Peter asked. ,
~t'Why, sir, the count is or was
vastly his SUPERIOR
**And what say you, sir ieuten-
ant ?" ..-<. 4.s
Alaric trembled, for this was ad-
dressed to him. He knew that the
duke was anxious to crush his
friend, and he feared to draw the
wrath Of that powerful <nobleman
down upon his head. But happy
thought came to his aid,
**Sire," he said, t1 would rather
you would judge Of that for your
self" - ~
'tMe Judge? And how am I to do
that" ~
fFLet Ruric Nevel's skill be tried
here before you. If I mistake not,
you have some good swordsmen near
your palace. There is Demetrius, the
Greek" .:- ..~ ~
what, my master at arms?"
es, sire"
"Why, he is the best swordsman
in my empire. I think our young
adventurer would fare badly in his
hands, -.
tFNever mind, sire. You could
|judge."
<*Why," said Peter, with a smile,
<Demetrius handles the count as I
would a merechild." ~ <
*'Sire,' spoke Ruric modestly, but
yet frankly, cit were surely no dis
grace to be overcome by your tutor"
*fAnd will you take a turn with
him at the swords :" -. =
eyes, sire, if SO it please you"
@:By my SOUL" cried the emperor,
leaping up, "we'll have some diver
sion out of this trial. / What no,
there! Light up the chamber. Let
every lamp be lighted, for we want
sight now. Send Demetrius here
and tell him to bring hisround edged
swords!' .- - NJ @
Both the duke and Urzen stood
aghast at this new turn, but they
dared not interfere, for they saw
'AAd' CA01A ILL Pe11dI AudoCeI " slS dill
excitement now to see trial Of skill
at that science which, above all 9TH
ers, he tried to make his officers
learn. But then they had one hope
-Demetrius might overcome the
gunmaker so easily that Peter
should not see his real power.
Demetrius soon came, and under
his arm he carried the swords. They
we're Of the common size, but with
round edges and points on purpose
for play. The master at arms was a
powerfully built man and possessed
splendid. form. He was a Greek
| by birth and was now retained by
the emperor as a teacher of the
sword exercise.
'Demetrius," said Peter, tsI have
sent for you to entertain us with a
show of your skill. Here is man
about whose power there is some