The Washington times., 1903-02-01

convenient.
"On one condition" continued Mon
sieur GuilIaume. ignoring the insinua-
ton. which is that Monsieur de Coigni
will permit me to continue sampIng this
excellent wine Of our host here, while
we settle our little difficulty"
Monsieur may suit his own pleasure;
but draw lest I run you through like
dog So saying-and without further
warning-the nov furious chevalier
lunged at his adversary with a SWIFT
movement that betrayed his mastery
over the rapier. De Coigni was indeed
no tyro at this game he was playing. As
a finished pupil OF Duoretu in Paris lie
had emerged victorious from more than
one broil of a similar nature. PERHAPS
| II was the knowledge OF this fact that
! made him overeonfdent-a factor to be
considered in both love and war-and
/ was not now improving his caution
/ As rapid as had been the attack the
! Gascon was quicker in defending him
self. Still holding the trimming gob-
4 let's in one hand he drew dis own
weapon with the other and Darried the
/ thrust with def turn Of the wrist as
he leaned backward
Monsieur advances through italy,
which IS a very roundabout way" com
/ mented GuillaUme as he flashed his long
rapier to the attack The covert re-
proaeh upon his unfairness stung De
Coigni to the quick flush of mingled
anger and humiliation surged over his
face as he redoubIed his efforts 10
break through the impossible guard OF
the other
Meanwhile the company. had formed a
circle about the combatants. and were
Offering now a word of criticism and
TOW approval as The thrusts we're dealt
and parted with lightning rapidity
Guillaume found. upon taking the
measure of his antagonist that he was
no mean hand at the game. One or two
narrow escapes taught him to practice
q bit more caution in his play
De Coigni was at first surprised at the
resistance offered By his more bulky.
and. as had been his first impression,
uawieidly opponent. Despite his utmost
skill, coupled with all the strength at
his command. the wrist which opposed
his OWL seemed 10 be made OF steel
His every movement seemed to be di-
vined by his antagonist beforehand and
so forestaIIed-
AS yet neither OF the combatants had
touched the other. but now Monsieur
Guillaume. stiTl holding the goblet Of
wine IN his left hand and defending
himself with his right. announced laugh
iRgIy-
Monsieur Ie Chevalier moves a bit
stifiY for one so young. So. so-but I
grow thirsty. While I cut that curl from
his pretty wtg-so! VIII drink" Ae-
companying the action to the word his
blade few out and accomplished its mis-
sion, while the Gascon took a quick
draught from the goblet But in doing
so he left an opening. and as the rapiers
merrily sang he suddenly felt a sharp
twinge in his left shoulder
'Dame!' he muttered.
Score number one, monsieur" an
uouneed De Coigni triumDhantly-
His triumph was OF short duration, how
ever, for the next moment the sword
OF the Gascon rebounded with a metallic
echo having met with a sudden and firm
resistance.
LIE DiabIe. As I thought" pursued
GuiIiaume, under his breath-"as
thought" Then with ringing note OF
warning in his voice, he said
Monsieur de Coigni is a man OF hon
OF, but he has forgotten one very i'm
2ortant rule OF the game Monsieur de
Coigni will never learn the rule any
younger. nor from more charitable
teacher, than the Comte GuiIlaume du
Barry"
So saying, CuiIIaume began to press
his opponent slowly backward and then.
with rapidly executed trick which sell
dom failed when the wrist and arm be-
hind it we're strong enough, he disarmed
his adversary by sending his weapon
to the far end Of the room With az
other movement as rapid as the first,
Guillaume dashed the contents OF the
goblet full in the face of the chevaIier,
and reaching down with his dfsengaged
hand, tore open his surtout
De Coigni was too dszed by the sud
denuess with which these successive
events had trglspired TO offer any save
the most Intellectual resistance-his eyes
still smarting from the effects of tbs
wine
But the sight which now engaged the
attention Of the spectators brought an
exclamation to every lip. Il was a shirt
OF mail which the traveller was wearing
under his surtout
Guillaume stepped back and vita
folded arms regarded his late adversary.
a glance OF mingled surprise and scorn.
At length he said:
Monsieur de Cofgnf doubtless would
have explained had he not been in such
a hurry 10 pursue his journey" This
eliciting no reply. he continued
Monsieur Will find his sword near the
door as he goes out. Adisu. monsieur,
adieu' When monsieur again visits
Gascony he viii remember that Gascon
gentleman always plays a fair game
always a fair game. monsieur
De Coigni stil vouchsafed no response,
but accepted the situation with the best
grace possible under the circumstances.
paid his score. and WIS soon squirting on
his way to Paris and the Choiseuls. with
the LAUGHTER of Levignac echoing in the
distance