There was a pause as Sir Felix ceased to speak, and then the young Squire replied.

But his sentence stopped midway: for once more the old man rushed upon him.
This time young Cardinnock's rapier was raised.

Girdling Cicely with his left arm he parried her father's lunge and smote his blade aside.
But such was the old man's passion that he followed the lunge with all his body, and before his opponent could prevent it, was wounded high in the chest, beneath the collar-bone.
He reeled back and fell against the table.

Cicely ran forward and caught his hand; but he pushed her away savagely and, with another clutch at the table's edge, dropped upon the hearth-rug.

The young man, meanwhile, white and aghast, rushed to the table, filled a glass with wine, and held it to the lips of the wounded man.