Orsini himself, exhausted by his fury, had paused for an instant, fronting his foe with a heaving breast and savage looks, when, suddenly, his followers exclaimed, "Fly! fly!--the bandits approach--we are surrounded!"-- and two of the servitors, without further parley, took fairly to their heels.

The other five remained irresolute, and waiting but the command of their master, when he of the white plume, whom I have just described, thrust himself into the melee.
"What! gentles," said he, "have ye finished already?
Nay, let us not mar the sport; begin again, I beseech you.

What are the odds?
Ho! six to one!--nay, no wonder that ye have waited for fairer play.

See, we two will take the weaker side.

Now then, let us begin again." "Insolent!" cried the Orsini.