In his desperation, just as his heart seemed sinking to the lowest ebb, Leoni's words recurred to him. He had used the gold, while now, as the doctor had told him, he had his sword; and at this thought he drew in his breath through his teeth with a sharp low hiss. "You hear!" cried Sir Robert sharply. "These horses are not to leave the stable till I return with some one in authority who shall decide what is to be done. You understand me? On your lives, obey!" He swung round to stride out of the building, and then started with surprise, for the young esquire's rapier flashed out sharply in the dull light of the lanterns, as he drew and cried sternly: "On your life, sir, stand back, and cease to interfere! I have the highest of commands for what I do." "What!" cried Sir Robert. "Why, I have been waiting for this, to pay you back the smart you gave me--insolent French puppy that you are! Give up your sword, sir. Do you know that it is a crime to draw in the precincts of the castle? This you have done, and it is my duty as one of his Majesty's officers to arrest you on the spot. Give up your sword, sir, at once. You are my prisoner." "Take my sword," cried Denis sharply, "and make me your prisoner, insolent boor, if you dare or can." "On your head be it then," cried Sir Robert, loosening his cloak, twisting it quickly round his left arm, and drawing his sword, while the chief groom, startled by the danger in which the young esquire stood, whispered quickly to a couple of his underlings to hurry for the guard. "Stop!" cried Sir Robert fiercely. "Let no man stir if he value his skin. I know what you would do, and that I'll do myself when I have corrected this springald here.--Now, boy," he roared, "your sword!" "Now, Master Leoni," whispered the boy between his teeth, as he rapidly placed himself on guard and made a feint at the burly captain's chest. "Take it, insolent bully!" he said sharply; and the officer in his astonishment at the suddenness of the attack, fell back a pace; but recovering himself on the instant, he crossed swords with his young adversary. Then, to the excitement and delight of the grooms, who raised their lanterns to the full extent of their arms that the combatants might see, the triangular-bladed weapons began to give forth that peculiar harsh gritting sound of two steel edges rasping together.