If you press on hard enough, and there are men following you, the enemy give way, generally, before it comes to hand-to-hand fighting.

If, on the other hand, they are the more numerous, and hold their position in the breach, it is the musketry that settles it.

It is only when two officers happen to meet, in a fierce fight, that swordsmanship becomes of importance.
"We have a good school in the regiment, and there are several famous masters of fence in the town, so I should advise you to give a couple of hours a day, for a time, to making yourself a first-rate swordsman.

I have just left off.

Our maitre d'armes tells me I am too hotheaded ever to make a fine blade; but I should fancy, from the way you have been arguing, that you are likely to be cooler than most of us in a fencing bout.