They were standing to take breath, so I ran towards them; but on seeing me coming, this rascal, too, whipped round his horse and disappeared in the wood, and left us victors.
The first thing I did--and I remember it to this day with pleasure--was to plunge my hand into my pocket, take out half of all the money I had in the world, and press it on the man who had fought for me so stoutly.
In my joy I could have kissed him! It was not only that I had escaped defeat by the skin of my teeth--and his good sword; but I knew, and felt, and thrilled with the knowledge, that the fight had, in a sense, redeemed my character.

He was wounded in two places, and I had a scratch or two, and had lost my horse; and my other poor fellow was dead as a herring.

But, speaking for myself, I would have spent half the blood in my body to purchase the feeling with which I turned back to speak to M.
de Cocheforet and his sister.

Mademoiselle had dismounted, and with her face averted and her mask pushed on one side, was openly weeping.
Her brother, who had faithfully kept his place by the ford from the beginning of the fight to the end, met me with raised eyebrows and a peculiar smile.
'Acknowledge my virtue,' he said airily.

'I am here, M.de Berault; which is more than can be said of the two gentlemen who have just ridden off.' 'Yes,' I answered with a touch of bitterness.