At last the end came--more suddenly than I had looked for it,but I think he was unnerved.His hand lost its grip of the hilt,and a parry which I dealt a little more briskly than usual sent the weapon flying among the crowd,as much to my astonishment as to that of the spectators.A volley of oaths and exclamations hailed the event;and for a moment I stood at gaze,eyeing him watchfully.He shrank back;then he made for a moment as if he would fling himself upon me dagger in hand.But seeing my point steady,he recoiled a second time,his face distorted with rage and fear.
'Go!'I said sternly.'Begone!Follow your sword!But spare the next man you conquer.'
He stared at me,fingering his dagger as if he did not understand,or as if in the bitterness of his shame at being so defeated even life were unwelcome.I was about to repeat my words when a heavy hand fell on my shoulder.
'Fool!'a harsh growling voice muttered in my ear.'Do you want him to serve you as Achon served Matas?This is the way to deal with him.'
And before I knew who spoke or what to expect a man vaulted over the table beside me.Seizing the Italian by the neck and waist,he flung him bodily--without paying the least regard to his dagger--into the crowd.'There!'the new-comer cried,stretching his arms as if the effort had relieved him,'so much for him!And do you breathe yourself.Breathe yourself,my friend,'he continued with a vain-glorious air of generosity.
'When you are rested and ready,you and I will have a bout.Mon dieu!what a thing it is to see a man!And by my faith you are a man!'
'But,sir,'I said,staring at him in the utmost bewilderment,'we have no quarrel.'
'Quarrel?'he cried in his loud,ringing voice.'Heaven forbid!
Why should we?I love a man,however,and when I see one I say to him,"I am Crillon!Fight me!"But I see you are not yet rested.Patience!There is no hurry.Berthon de Crillon is proud to wait your convenience.In the meantime,gentlemen,'he continued,turning with a grand air to the spectators,who viewed this sudden BOULEVERSEMENT with unbounded surprise,'let us do what we can.Take the word from me,and cry all,"VIVE LE ROI,ET VIVE L'INCONNU!"'
Like people awaking from a dream--so great was their astonishment the company complied and with the utmost heartiness.When the shout died away,someone cried in turn,'Vive Crillon!'and this was honoured with a fervour which brought the tears to the eyes of that remarkable man,in whom bombast was so strangely combined with the firmest and most reckless courage.He bowed again and again,turning himself about in the small space between the tables,while his face shone with pleasure and enthusiasm.
Meanwhile I viewed him with perplexity.I comprehended that it was his voice I had heard behind the settle;but I had neither the desire to fight him nor so great a reserve of strength after my illness as to be able to enter on a fresh contest with equanimity.When he turned to me,therefore,and again asked,'Well,sir,are you ready?'I could think of no better answer than that I had already made to him,'But,sir,I have no quarrel with you.'
'Tut,tut!'he answered querulously,'if that is all,let us engage.'
'That is not all,however,'I said,resolutely putting up my sword.'I have not only no quarrel with M.de Crillon,but Ireceived at his hands when I last saw him a considerable service.'
