Yet I was content to stand, and never move my blade from his until he had recovered and we were back in our first position once again.
I heard the deep bass of Castelroux's "Mordieux!" the sharp gasp of fear from Saint-Eustache, who already in imagination beheld his friend stretched lifeless on the ground, and the cry of mortification from La Fosse as the Count recovered.

But I heeded these things little.

As I have said, to kill the Count was not my object.

It had been wise, perhaps, in Chatellerault to have appreciated that fact; but he did not.
From the manner in which he now proceeded to press me, I was assured that he set his having recovered guard to slowness on my part, never thinking of the speed that had been necessary to win myself such an opening as I had obtained.
My failure to run him through in that moment of jeopardy inspired him with a contempt of my swordplay.

This he now made plain by the recklessness with which he fenced, in his haste to have done ere we might chance to be interrupted.