Captain Protheroe clasped his hands behind his back, and fixing his eyes full on his opponent's face waited what should follow.
The prisoner stood for a space staring at him in silence, the expression of his face changing from astonishment to triumph, from triumph to deep dismay. Then he dropped the point of his rapier and turned away.
"HE DROPPED THE POINT OF HIS RAPIER AND TURNED AWAY"
"'Tis enough, I am satisfied."
"But pardon me, sir, I am not," answered Captain Protheroe drily. "Methinks you have forgotten my stipulation."
The prisoner bit his lip and answered coldly: "I do not choose to comply with it; nor do I hold with such folly."
"'Tis a pity you did not express that opinion before, sir. Yet there remains no choice for you. I prefer death by the sword to death by the scaffold. I am ready. You will therefore carry out our contract at once, or forfeit all claim to be counted a man of honour."
The prisoner flushed angrily and once more raised his rapier. But meeting the quiet smile and steady gaze of his opponent he dropped the weapon upon the table and turned away.
"You must wait. I cannot kill you now."