The encounter was but short, for, relying upon the superior strength of his arm, and determined to punish his slight young adversary in revenge for the past, the captain pressed hard upon him, lunging rapidly with all the vigour he could command, his intention being to drive his antagonist backward against one or other of the walls and pin him there. But he had reckoned without his host, for though Denis was no long-practised swordsman, Leoni's lessons had not been without their effect, and as thrust after thrust was lightly turned aside, the young esquire firmly stood his ground, merely stepping sideways and letting his adversary's baffled blade glide by his slight form, while refraining from thrusting again and again when the burly captain had laid himself so open that he was quite at the lad's mercy. "Oh," growled the captain at the end of a couple of minutes' encounter, and he drew back to rest. "That is your play, is it? You refuse to be disarmed when I have mercifully shown myself disposed to let you off without a scratch." "Your tongue is sharper than your sword, sir," said the boy scornfully; "and it is worse. It is poisoned, for every word you have spoken is a lie." "What!" cried the captain, enraged by the low murmur uttered by the grooms as if endorsing the young esquire's words. "More insolent than ever! Give up your sword, or, by Heaven, I'll send you back to the castle upon a litter." "Send me, then," said the lad contemptuously, "or be prepared to go yourself." "Bah! No more words. Come on," cried the captain; and he prepared to attack once more. "My turn now," whispered the boy to himself, "and it is time;" for in his excitement he fancied that he could hear steps approaching. But there was not a sound save the gritting of the rapiers and the captain's hoarse panting breath as he uttered a loud expiration at every thrust. For in his turn, in spite of his determination to make this second encounter an attack, and force his young adversary to remain entirely on his guard, the retort had begun, and before a minute had elapsed he uttered a sharp ejaculation as he felt the sharp pain caused by the lad's keen point ripping open his muscular right arm. Stung now with rage, hatred, and the determination to have revenge, he literally rushed at the lad, to force him down, with the natural result that he threw himself open to the point of his more skilful enemy, who chose his moment, and made one quick thrust which darted like lightning through the captain's bull-like neck, making him utter a low, deep growl as his sword flew from his hand, and he staggered backwards into the arms of a couple of the grooms, who lowered him to the ground.