"As you wish, monsieur," said he; "as you wish."
XX
A TRICK OF FENCE
After Lotzen had gone, and I was able to do a bit of reflecting, I was pretty well convinced that he had got about as much out of me as I had out of him. Of course, our mutual distrust and dislike were now openly avowed; but we had known it quite as well before—just as he had been aware of my designs on the Crown and my partiality for the Princess, and, I, of his purpose to defeat me for both. He had, to use a military term, made a reconnoissance in force; and I had tried to meet him in kind and to prevent him uncovering my exact position. How well I had succeeded, however, was very problematical; for I could not know what particular information he sought. I was satisfied, however, his main purpose was to discover whether I had any knowledge or suspicion of him being back of Madeline Spencer. And I was not so sure I had bluffed him. I began to fancy he had seen through me, at once, and had played me off against myself, so to speak. And, the longer I meditated, the more the fancy gripped me. Finally, in disgust, I summoned Bernheim and Moore.
"Which of you," said I, "will do me the favor of a few passes with the foils?"
Of course, they both offered.
"Good," said I; "I'll take you, in turn. Send an orderly to the armory for the paraphernalia."
I fell to divesting myself of my upper garments, and Bernheim and Moore followed suit.
"By the way," I said, "what sort of a fencer is Lotzen?"