True to his promise, the provost took the key from the lock and threw it over the wall, so that it fell into the courtyard. "And now," cried Benvenuto, rushing upon the provost and his troop, "every man for himself, and God for us all!" A terrible struggle ensued, for before the provost's people had time to lower their weapons and fire, Benvenuto with his seven workmen was in their midst, slashing to right and left with the terrible sword which he handled in such masterly fashion, and which, forged by his own hand, met few coats of mail or breastplates able to resist it. The soldiers thereupon cast aside their useless arquebuses, drew their swords, and began to cut and thrust in return. But, despite their numbers and their gallantry, in less time than it takes to write the words, they were scattered all about the square, and two or three of the bravest, wounded so severely that they could tight no longer, were forced to fall back. The provost saw the danger, and being a brave man, who in his time had achieved some fame as a fighting man, he rushed forward to confront this redoubtable Benvenuto Cellini, whom nobody seemed able to withstand. "To me!" he cried; "to me, infamous robber! and let us decide the affair! What say you?" "Oh! I could ask nothing better," replied Benvenuto. "If you will bid your people not to interfere with us, I am your man." "Stand where you are!" said the provost to his men. "Let not one of you stir!" said Cellini to his. And the combatants on either side stood rooted in their places, silent and motionless, like the Homeric warriors, who ceased their own fighting in order to miss no part of a contest between two renowned chiefs. Thereupon the provost and Cellini, each of whom already held his naked sword in his hand, attacked each other at the same instant. The provost was a clever fencer, but Cellini's skill in that direction was of the very first order. For ten or twelve years past the provost had not once had occasion to draw his sword. On the other hand, during those same ten or twelve years hardly a day had passed that Benvenuto had not had or made an occasion to draw his. At the outset, therefore, the provost, who had counted a little too much upon his own prowess, became conscious of his enemy's superiority.