A short time later Merry and Bart were fitted out with foils, masks, and plastrons, and they prepared for a bout, both eager to discover if they retained their old-time skill at the art. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER II THRUST AND RIPOSTE. That Frank retained all his old-time skill he soon demonstrated. Hodge was not in bad form, but Merry was far and away his superior, and he toyed with Bart. Morton looked on in some surprise. “Why, say,” he cried, “both of you chaps know the game all right! You could cut some ice at it.” Bart smiled. “I could have told you that Merry knew it,” he said. “L’Estrange could make an expert of him,” declared Morton. “Perhaps he might surprise L’Estrange,” said Hodge. “I think he would,” nodded the host, without detecting Bart’s real meaning. Frank and Bart went at it again. In the midst of the bout two young men sauntered up and paused, watching them with interest. “Why,” said one, “they really know how to fence, Fred!” “That’s right,” nodded the other. “They are not novices.” Morton quickly stepped to the side of the two. “These are my guests, gentlemen,” he said. “Oh,” said the taller and darker chap, “I understand you have Merriwell and his friends in town. Is either of these fellows——” “Yes, that one there is Frank Merriwell.” “Introduce me when they are through. I am interested in him as an athlete, although I may not be as a fencer. Evidently he thinks himself pretty clever at this trick, but his form is not correct, and he makes a number of false moves.” Bart Hodge heard these words distinctly, and he lowered his foil, turning to survey the speaker. “You see, Darleton!” muttered Morton resentfully. “They have heard you!” Darleton shrugged his shoulders. To cover his confusion, Morton hastened to introduce Darleton and his companion, Grant Hardy, to Frank and Bart. “Mr. Darleton,” said Merry, “glad to know you. I’ve just been hearing about you from your fencing instructor.” “Have you?” said Darleton, with a quite superior air. “I’m afraid Monsieur L’Estrange has been boasting about me, as usual. Just because I happened to be particularly apt as a pupil, he is inclined to puff me on every occasion. I don’t fancy it, you know, but I can’t seem to prevent it. People will begin to think me quite a wonder if he doesn’t stop overrating me.” “But he doesn’t overrate you, my dear fellow,” quickly put in Grant Hardy. “I’ve seen you hold L’Estrange himself at something like even play, and he is a wizard.” Hodge laughed a bit. “Why do you laugh?” asked Hardy, with a flash of resentment. “Do you think——” “I laughed over Mr. Darleton’s modesty,” said Hodge. “It is useless for him to seek to conceal the truth from us in that manner. He is quite the wonder of this club.” Hardy missed the sarcasm hidden in Bart’s words and his face cleared.