I found the patroon in much the same position as Louis had found him earlier that day. A few red drops showed on the scattered papers; otherwise all signs of the henchman’s death had disappeared. The patroon was seated in his leather chair with his sword in his hand when I entered.
“Close the door, Vincent,” he said.
I turned to do so, and almost immediately I heard a quick step behind me. A mirror on the wall warned me of my danger. I sprang aside just in time to avoid a vicious thrust of the patroon’s sword.
“Coward!” I cried. “From behind.”
“What have you to say of ‘from behind?’ I strike cowards and dogs from behind when they won’t show their faces—why not spies as well? Answer me that, Michael Le Bourse.”
So he, too, had found me out. I dare say he had overheard my conversation with his daughter from some secret passage. He stood before me now, glaring at me with pent up passion.
“Draw your sword, Mike. You have an Irish name, but a fool’s wit. Don’t you see the humor of it? The Earl and I must wait a while. But you and I, our time has come. You shall never have my daughter while I live. Draw, man, draw, or I’ll spit you like a dog.”
Our swords were out and crossed in the twinkle of an eye. He fought wildly, bent upon taking my life, and careless of his own. His all depended on it, yet he was man enough not to call for help. I meanwhile stood upon the defensive and nothing more.
Had we both been in earnest it would have been short shrift for the patroon. I had the advantage, both in years and strength, as well as in skill with my weapon. From the first I was as cool as if drilling on parade. My very coolness seemed to exasperate him further. After a few passes his manner began to change. I saw the scared look in his face and the flush of blood that always came before one of his mad seizures. Then he began to grow unsteady. The swiftness of his blows redoubled. He left his body unguarded twenty times. I could, had I been so minded, have run him through with my eyes shut. Still he fought on with blind desperation.
Then we heard someone coming down the hall. There was a woman’s cry of terror. The next moment Miriam, unmindful of her own danger, dashed between us and caught her father in her arms.