We stood at gaze, the length of the little low-ceilinged chamber between
us, both of us breathing hard.
Then I looked round for something with which to defend myself; for it was
plain that he meant to have my life. By a great ill-chance it happened
that the sword which I had worn upon that day when I went as Giuliana's
escort into Piacenza was still standing in the very corner where I had set
it down. Instinctively I sprang for it, and Fifanti, never suspecting my
quest until he saw me with a naked iron in my hand, did nothing to prevent
my reaching it.
Seeing me armed, he laughed. "Ho, ho! The saint-at-arms!" he mocked.
"You'll be as skilled with weapons as with holiness!" And he advanced upon
me in long stealthy strides. The width of the table was between us, and he
smote at me across it. I parried, and cut back at him, for being armed
now, I no more feared him than I should have feared a child. Little he
knew of the swordcraft I had learnt from old Falcone, a thing which once
learnt is never forgotten though lack of exercise may make us slow.
He cut at me again, and narrowly missed the lamp in his stroke. And now, I
can most solemnly make oath that in the thing that followed there was no
intent. It was over and done before I was conscious of the happening.
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