For a moment Nick regarded him intently, and then he said:
“Rise, Monsieur Lafetre, for, be assured, you are the best fencer with whom I have ever contended.”
“Ah! Is it so? Is it true, what you say to me, monsieur?”
“Yes; it is quite true.”
“Then I am content; yes, I am content. It is an honor but to have fenced with such as you are; but to be told that I am the greatest with whom you have ever contended—ah! that is the rapture, indeed. And you, monsieur? I have not yet the honor of hearing your name.”
“Nor has any other person within the château,” replied Nick.
“Ha! Say you so? Then you came here by stealth? Eh? Is it true?”
“Yes; it is quite true.”
“To meet me? To meet Antoine Lafetre? To fence?”
“It seems that I did come here to meet you, and to fence with you,” replied Nick slowly. “But there was also another purpose in my coming.”