Don Diego fought furiously, lips drawn back in a snarling grimace, brows close knit. He lunged forward to the heart, was parried by that lightning blade from the hand of Ferrara, and recovered his guard only just in time. Sir Nicholas was on his toes; the laugh was back in his eyes, and on his lips; larger issues were forgot in the present joy of battle. He had made no idle boast to his brother when he had said he was a master of the art of foining with the point. Don Diego had thought himself no mean swordsman, but he knew himself outmatched. This man, sprung on wires; this devil who laughed as he lunged, had a dashing skill that brought Diego face to face with death a dozen times. He was fighting for very life, and he had thought to run through his opponent almost at once. "Laugh, laugh, dog!" he gasped, beating aside that flickering blade for an instant. "You shall laugh soon in hell!" "Go warn them there of my coming, señor," said Sir Nicholas gaily, and seemed to quicken. The fight grew more desperate; Don Diego was losing ground, and knew it. It was all he could do to keep that dancing sword-point at bay, and ever he fell back before it. The point quivered to his throat; he sprang back, was forced on further still, hard-breathing, sweating, but fighting every inch of the way. Faintly in the distance came the thud of galloping horses. Joshua's voice called urgently: "Master, master, make an end!" Don Diego thrust viciously to the heart. "You shall go hence--shackled!" he gasped. The steel blades hissed together; one of them snaked out in a straight lunge, driven by a strong wrist. "_My bite is sure!_" quoth Sir Nicholas, and wrenched his sword free of the deep wound. Don Diego's weapon fell clattering; he threw up his hands with a choking sound, and pitched forward on to his face. The thud of the horses' hooves was drawing nearer; Sir Nicholas was down on his knee, turning Don Diego over. The black eyes were glazing fast, but gleamed hatred still. Sir Nicholas felt in the elegant doublet, found the key he sought, and sprang up. Joshua ran in. "Trapped, trapped!" he cried. "They are hard on us!" "Round with you to the back!" Beauvallet answered instantly. "Wait beneath my lady's window, and when I send her down to you, off with you!" Joshua made a gesture of despair and ran out. Plainly to be heard now were the galloping hooves. Sir Nicholas went bounding up the stairs. "Where, my heart, where?" he called. Her voice led him to the door. He fitted the key into the lock and turned it, listening to the thunder of hooves drawing closer and ever closer. The door was open, and Dominica sobbing on his breast. "You are safe?" he asked urgently. "Safe! safe!" she answered.