She dug her heels into the ground, and, tug as he might, for all that he set both hands to work, he could not move her.
In this plight I came upon him, and challenged him to stand and face me.
With a bunch of oaths he got out his sword, but in doing so he was forced to remove one of his hands from the girl's arm.

Seizing the opportunity with a ready wit and courage seldom found in women of her quality, she twisted herself from the grip of his left hand, and came staggering towards me for protection, holding up her pinioned wrists.
With my blade I severed the cord, whereupon she plucked the gag from her mouth, and sank against my side, her struggles having left her weak indeed.
As I set my arm about her waist to support her, my heart seemed to swell within me, and strange melodies shaped themselves within my soul.
St.Auban bore down upon me with a raucous oath, but the glittering point of my rapier danced before his eyes and drove him back again.
"To me, Vilmorin, you cowardly cur!" he shouted.

"To me, you dogs!" He let fly at them a volley of blood-curdling oaths, then, without waiting to see if they obeyed him, he came at me again, and our swords met.
"Courage, Mademoiselle," I whispered, as a sigh that was almost a groan escaped her.

"Have no fear." But that fight was not destined to be fought, for, as again we engaged, there came the fall of running feet behind me.

It flashed across my mind that Michelot had been worsted, and that my back was about to be assailed.