Evening journal., 1922-07-20
toonunued From Our Last Issue)

II was opened by tall, slender
ully-proportioned man of per
haps forty.
In the crook OF his left arm h.
carried a fencing mask. His keer
glance played over Andre-Louii
from head to foot.
Monsieur" he inquired, politely
1t was clear that he mistook An
dre-Louis' quality, for despite his
sadly reduced fortunes, his exterior
was irreproachable.
"You have notice below, mon
sieur." he said.
You are come in regard TO that?''
Andre-Louis shrugged and half
smiled. zone must live" said he.
But come in. Take off your
coat" NJ. des Amis said, ."and let us
see what you can do. Nature, at
least, designed you for a swords
man You are light. active. and
supple. with a good length Of arm.
and you seem intelligent. may
teach you enough for my purpose,
which is that you should give the
elements OF the art TO new pupils
Take that mask and foil, and come
over here.
He led him to the end OF the
room. where the bare floor was scor-
ed with lines Of chalk to guide the
beginner in the management OF his
feet.
At the end OF ten minutes bout
NJ. des Amis offered him the stu
alton. and explained Il. In addition
10 imparting the rudiments of the
art to beginners, he was to brush
out the fencing room every morning,
keep the foils furbished. assist the
gentlemen who came for lessons to
dress and undress. and make him
self generally useful. His wages for,
the present were TO be forty livres
a month.
The position had its humiiations.
But, If Andre-Louis would hope TO
dine he must begin by eating his
pride as an hors d'oeuvre.
And So" he said, controlling a |
erimace. the robe yields not only
70 the sword. but to the broom as
we'll BE 1t So"
Il is characteristic OF him that.
having made that choice. he should
have thrown himself into the work
with enthusiasm
Every morning before the opening
OF the academy, the master would
fence for half an hour with his new
assistant Under this really excel
lent tuition, Andre-Lodis improved
at a rate that both astounded and
fattcred NJ des Amls. He would have
been less faUered and more as
founded had he known that at least
half the secret OF Andre-Louis'
amazing progress lay in the fact
that he was devouring the contents
Of the masters library. which was
made up OF a dozen or so treatisos on
fencing by great masters.
AT the end of a month II Suddenly |
dawned upon ~ des Amis that his I
assistant had developed into a fencer
with whom il became necessary 10 |
exert himself If he were TO escape
defeat
Il said from the first" he told him
one day. that Nature designed you
for a swordsman."
ITO the master be the glory" said
Andre-Louis.
His relations with NJ des Amis
had meanwhile become Of the friend
lest. and he was now beginning to
receive from him other pupils than
mere beginners. Mr. des Amis'
open-handed fellow re-
warded his zeal by Increasing his
wages to four louis a month.
CHAPTER II.
Andre-Louis was in the gardens of
the Palais Royal. the universal rem
devious. on that Sunday morning in
June when the news of Necker's
dismissal. spread. carrying with it
dismay and fury.
He beheid a slight young man
with a pock-marked face leap to a
table outside the Cafe de Foyr a
Drawn sword in his hand, crying, ITO
.rmsi" And then upon the silence
IF astonishment that cry imposed,
his young man poured a flood or in
eloquence.
Enthusiasm swept the crowd, a
notley crowd made up Of men and
women of every class, from vaga-
ond TO nobleman, from narlot TO
ldy of fashion
Andre-Louis looked on. and grew
fraid. This crowd, he felt. must be
.strained. That hot-headed, ire I
sufferer would have the
,wn in a blaze by night unless
,mething were done. The young
ian. Camille Desmoulins. later to J
Scor,a farnouS leaned down from {
IS table, still waving his sword, e
iu shouting, "To armsl Follow =
lef' Andre-I.ouis advanced to oc-
upy the improvised rostrum, and v
ONE suddenly face to face with a e
all man, beautifully dressed. v
Thus face TO face, each looking a
nto the eyes Of the other. Then