The next moment there was the harsh, grating, rasping, hissing sound of steel edge against steel.
“Back, boy!” raged out Francis. “Let me punish this English canaille.”
“No, sir,” whispered Leoni sharply. “They are three. Let your servants finish this.”
“Here’s for you!” shouted one of Sir Robert’s companions, and they made for the King and his two followers; but they were hindered from crossing swords by Sir Robert, who, stepping back to avoid a sharp thrust delivered by Denis, felt his foot slip upon the wine-moistened polished oaken boards, and in saving himself he came in contact with the table, driving it heavily in his comrades’ way, so that the two parties were separated, the centre of the room being taken up by Denis and his adversary.
“The unlucky boy!” muttered the King angrily. “Leoni, he is no match for that English bull.”
“No, sir,” said the doctor coolly, as he stood watchful with his blade advanced; “but he can fence a little. Give me place, and I’ll see that he does not come to harm.”
Seeing that their adversaries were disposed to hold their hands until the couple engaged had finished their encounter, Sir Robert’s two companions stood waiting for their turn till the unequal match was finished; for unequal it was, Denis being pressed hard in the fierce onslaught made by the strong-armed bully, who kept on thrusting and driving the boy sideways as, lithe and agile, he avoided or parried every thrust. At last his fate seemed sealed, for his arm was growing weak and his defence being beaten down, when with a quick movement and just in the nick of time Leoni made a sudden dart forward and turned aside a very awkward thrust.
“Ah! Coward!” roared the English officer. “Two to one! Here, boys, come on!”
The command was unnecessary, for Leoni’s action was imitated at once by Sir Robert’s followers, who sprang forward, to have their blades engaged at once by Saint Simon and the King.
Then in a general mêlée the swords gritted and twined and seemed like flashing serpents in deadly fray, while those who grasped them came in contact with and were hindered by the furniture of the by no means extensive room.