“Yes, yes!” cried all the spectators, especially the two girls, who seemed to me to wish the pride of the apprentice lowered.
I saluted Félicién with my foil.
“I await you,” said I; “take care of my ripostas, which are very rapidly delivered.”
“We will see,” said Félicién, dealing me a thrust which I had only just time to parry.
But, at last, I touched, almost imperceptibly, his breast with the button of my foil.
He bounded backwards; and while neither of us cried “Touched?” yet all the spectators saw that it was so.
He again rushed on me, his teeth set, his lips pale.
He crossed my foil, and passed one, two. But in retreat, his foil caught my guard, and snapped off, about two inches from the button.
But he continued to fight, as if he knew not that his weapon was broken. So I took the first opportunity that offered; and, twisting his blade out of his hand, sent it flying across the room.