"Then, he is a very modest gentleman,"
I said.
"Like master like man," was the ready Irish reply.
"You're a sad blarneyer," I laughed. "You will be letting me disarm
you, next."
"No I won't, sir, voluntarily," he answered. "You are not the Lotzen
sort."
"You have fenced with him?"
"Frequently."
"And disarmed him?"
I saw Bernheim smile.
"Yes, once--the first time we engaged. He has disliked me ever since."
"I am rather astonished at you," I said; "where was your finesse?"
"It was quite unintentional. He tried to work a _coup_ that is very
little known. Instead of the regular defence I used one I had myself
developed--and which ends in a wrench. I gave it a bit too vigorously
and the Duke dropped his foil."
Bernheim gave a gruff laugh. "Dropped it!" he exclaimed. "Aye, and so
lightly it flew twenty feet and hit the wall near the roof."
"I think," said I, "I would like to know that _coup_ and its defences."
"They are yours, sir," he said. "But I am at a loss where Lotzen got
the attack. It isn't known to six persons in Europe--even among the
_maitres_."
"And your own defence?"
"Is, I am sure, known to me, alone. The man, with whom I worked it
out, died a week after it was perfected.
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