"Then feign to fight me," answered Ravenshaw, whipping out his rapier. "All's lost else."
Holyday drew his sword, and began to make awkward thrusts.
"Has she consented?" whispered Ravenshaw, parrying and returning the lunges in such manner as not to touch the other's flesh.
"Yes," said the poet, continuing to fence, but backing from his formidable-looking antagonist in spite of himself, so that the two quickly worked away from the cross into full view of the goldsmith's house.
Meanwhile, Lady Greensleeves's coach had passed on; Mistress Etheridge and Sir Peregrine, from their window, had observed Holyday's movement, and now recognised the captain; Millicent had run to the shop entrance, and her father, seeing her there, had come forth wondering what she was doing in the street, a question which yielded to his sudden interest in the fight. Shopkeepers hastened thither from their doors, people in the street quickly gathered around, but all kept safely distant from the clashing weapons.
"Give way, and take refuge in the shop," said Ravenshaw to his adversary, in the low voice necessary between the two, "else somebody will come that knows us; if our friendship be spoken of, they'll smell collusion."
The scholar, making all the sword-play of which he was capable, rapidly yielded ground.
"But not too fast," counselled the captain, using his skill to make his antagonist show the better, "else she'll think you a sorry swordman."
Poor Holyday, panting, perspiring, weak-kneed, light-headed, but upheld by the mysterious force of Ravenshaw's steady gaze, did as he was bid. A murmur of excited comment arose from the crowd; the windows of the high-peaked houses began to be filled with faces. Ravenshaw perceived there must soon be an end of this; so, nodding for the scholar to fall back more rapidly, he advanced with thrusts that looked dangerous.
Millicent, who had stood in bewilderment since the beginning of the fight, suddenly realised the folly of any ordinary man's crossing swords with Captain Ravenshaw. If Holyday were slain or hurt, what of her escape?