I had always been fond of stringing verses together, and the friends to whom I showed my poem before sending it in all thought that I had a very good chance.

I felt hopeful myself, for I had not heard that he was thinking of competing, and, indeed, did not remember that he had ever written a line of verse when at school.

However, when the winner was declared, there was his name again.
"I believe that it was the disgust I felt at his superiority to me in everything that led me to ask my father to get me a commission at once, for it seemed to me that I should never succeed in anything if he were my rival.

Since then our lives have been altogether apart, although I have met him occasionally.

Of course we speak, for there has never been any quarrel between us since that fight, but I know that he has never forgiven me, and I have a sort of uneasy conviction that some day or other we shall come into contact again.
"I am sure that if we meet again he will do me a bad turn if possible.