IV.
“Come, I’ll be your shocking example,” said one of my hearers. “I have never touched a sword in my life. See what you can make of me.”
“Very good,” I replied, rising as I spoke; and taking down a pair of swords I handed him one. Then without giving him time to think, I made a quick movement and threatened him with the point.
Instinctively he threw himself on guard.
“There, that will do,” I said, “stay as you are; I only wish you could be photographed to illustrate the instinctive attitude. Oh, don’t be too conceited; I do not mean to say that your position is faultless,—very far from that; but the attitude in which you are standing is the origin of the orthodox guard as taught in the fencing-room, because it is essentially the attitude that accords with our natural fighting instincts.”
“I am getting tired of this,” observed my patient, who had scrupulously stuck to his position.
“One moment,” I replied. “You are tired because your arm is too much extended. Draw it back a trifle, to relax the muscles and give them their natural play. Carry yourself more upright by slightly raising the body. Your left foot is too far from the right; bring it rather more forward; sink down a little on your legs, so as to be ready either to spring quickly to the rear or to advance.
“Bring your right shoulder forward, in order to expose your chest less, but not further than you can manage with comfort. You see I am not very exacting.
“There, that will do very well.
“Now, if I make a movement, straighten your arm boldly, and step back.
“Very well done.
“And yet you tell me you have never touched a sword, or even a foil in a fencing-room. Then all I can say is that I could not have chosen a better subject for my demonstration.
“We will now put the swords back in their place, and return to our discussion. Perhaps I may have occasion to trouble you again by and by.”
“I am entirely at your disposal, Professor,” replied my obliging pupil.