I aroused the warden, and with the artful argument of gold had almost persuaded him to let me pass.

My evident eagerness was my undoing, for in the hope of obtaining more gold the warden delayed opening the gates till two men approached on horseback, and, dismounting, demanded my surrender.
I laughed and said: "Two against one! Gentlemen, I am caught." I then drew my sword as if to offer it to them.

My action threw the men off their guard, and when I said, "Here it is," I gave it to the one standing near me, but I gave it to him point first and in the heart.
It was a terrible thing to do, and bordered so closely on a broken parole that I was troubled in conscience.

I had not, however, given my parole, nor had I surrendered; and if I had done so--if a man may take another's life in self-defence, may he not lie to save himself?
The other man shot at me with his fusil, but missed.

He then drew his sword; but he was no match for me, and soon I left him sprawling on the ground, dead or alive, I knew not which.
At the time of which I write I was thirty-five years of age, and since my fifteenth birthday my occupations had been arms and the ladies--two arts requiring constant use if one would remain expert in their practice.
I escaped, and ran along the wall to a deep breach which had been left unrepaired.