But Sir Giles was further served, though unintentionally, by Madame
Bonaventure, who succeeded in drawing back the rusty bolt at the very
moment he came up; and no impediment now existing, the knight thrust her
rudely aside, and sprang through the doorway just as Jocelyn leaped from
the wall.
Disregarding Sir Giles's summons to surrender, the young man hurried on
till he reached the middle of the bowling-green, where, finding flight
impossible, as there was no apparent outlet at the further end of the
garden, while it was certain that the tipstaves would pluck him from the
wall with their hooks if he attempted to clamber over it, he turned, and
stood upon his defence.
Willing to have the credit of disarming him unaided, and confident in
his own superior strength and skill, Sir Giles signed to his myrmidons
to stand back, while he alone advanced towards the young man. A turn in
his strong wrist would, he imagined, suffice to accomplish his purpose.
But he found out his error the moment he engaged with his opponent. In
dexterity and force the latter was fully his match, while in nimbleness
of body Jocelyn surpassed him. The deadly glances thrown at him by the
young man showed that the animosity of the latter would only be
satisfied with blood. Changing his purpose, therefore, Sir Giles, in
place of attempting to cross his antagonist's sword, rapidly disengaged
his point, and delivered a stoccata, or in modern terms of fence, a
thrust in carte, over the arm, which was instantly parried.
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