It was the power of being able to use a piece that has saved me from having to use it, Dominic.

Wild people and ruffians don't care about attacking people who can defend themselves." The gunmaker was ready with the charged guns, and he had led them into a long gallery with targets, where the lady astounded the man by her ability and knowledge of what a gun ought to be.
Then Nic had his first trials, and made so poor a business of it that Lady O'Hara said to him laughingly: "Sure it must be a bad gun, with a crooked barrel.

Let me try." The reloaded gun was handed to her, and she raised it, lowered it, and raised it again and again to try the balance and weight.
"It comes up very nicely," she said, balancing it in her hands.
"It is really one of our best make, my lady," said the gunmaker.
"But my young friend does not seem to find that it shoots straight.

Now then." She raised it quickly to her shoulder, glanced for a brief instant along the barrel, and the white mark at the end of the gallery was speckled like a currant dumpling, while the gunmaker smiled with satisfaction.
"It was my fault," said Nic dolefully.

"I suppose I can't see straight." "Perhaps not," said Lady O'Hara drily.