This artful plan seemed likely to succeed, for the Italian at length lowered his weapon for a moment, as if his hand was growing wearied. But as De Malet made a rapid stroke at him, the other suddenly changed the sword from his right to his left hand, and catching the Marquis's blade in reverse, sent it flying among the crowd below.
"Well done!" cried the young man, admiringly. "I thought I knew most tricks of fence, but I never saw one like that before."
"I could teach it to your lordship in a week," said the Italian. "For a man of your skill nothing is needed but practice."
"Say you so?" cried De Malet. "Then the sooner we begin, the better. Come home with me, and stay till you've taught me all you know. One doesn't meet a man like you every day."
And so for a month to come Antonio Spalatro was the guest of Henri de Malet; and the young Marquis learned to perform the feat which had excited his wonder quite as dexterously as the Italian himself.
White lay the snow upon the fields outside the blazing city of Moscow. The Russians had fired their own capital. The veteran bands of Napoleon were fleeing from fire to perish amid ice and snow.
"Down with the French dog!"
"Cut him to pieces!"
"Send a bullet through him!"