"You will pass from the Duc de Guise's service to that of the king, without, however, quitting that of the duc."
"In other words, that I should become a spy like yourself?"
"No, for there will be a difference; I am not paid, but you will be. You will begin by showing me the Duc de Guise's letter to Madame la Duchesse de Montpensier; you will let me take a copy of it, and I will leave you quiet until another occasion. Well, am I not considerate?"—"Here," said Borromée, "is my answer."
Borromée's reply was "un coupé sur les armes," so rapidly dealt that the point of his sword slightly touched Chicot's shoulder.
"Well, well," said Chicot, "I see I must positively show you Nicolas David's thrust. It is very simple and pretty."
And Chicot, who had up to that moment been acting on the defensive, made one step forward and attacked in his turn.
"This is the thrust," said Chicot; "I make a feint in quartrebasse."
And he did so; Borromée parried by giving way; but, after this first step backward he was obliged to stop, as he found that he was close to the partition.
"Good! precisely so; you parry in a circle; that's wrong, for my wrist is stronger than yours. I catch your sword in mine, thus. I return to the attack by a tierce haute, I fall upon you, so, and you are hit, or, rather, you are a dead man!"
In fact, the thrust had followed, or rather had accompanied, the demonstration, and the slender rapier, penetrating Borromée's chest, had glided like a needle completely through him, penetrating deeply, and with a dull, heavy sound, the wooden partition behind him.