“That settles it!” cried Darleton triumphantly. “You hear him, gentlemen. He’s ready to fence me. He can’t back out.”
“As if he would want to back out!” muttered Bart Hodge softly. “You’ll get all you’re looking for to-night, Mr. Darleton.”
CHAPTER V
THE FENCING BOUT.
“On guard, gentlemen!”
It was the voice of François L’Estrange.
The regular finals were over. As a finish to the evening’s entertainment, the announcer had stated that, in order not to disappoint those who had expected to witness a fencing contest, an arrangement had been made whereby Frank Merriwell, a guest of the club, would meet the club’s champion, Fred Darleton.
Darleton had appeared first on the raised platform and had been greeted by hearty applause.
Then came Merriwell, and the applause accorded him was no less generous.
The preliminaries were quickly arranged.