n mine, as I
could feel every time he put aside my attacks."

"Is that so?" the maitre d'armes said, in surprise. "I had taken
him for your senior. He will be a famous man-at-arms, when he
attains his full age. His defence is wonderfully strong and,
although I do not admit that he is superior to you with the point,
he would be a formidable opponent to any of our best swordsmen in a
melee. If, as he says, he is more accustomed to use the edge than
the point, I will myself try him tomorrow, if he will permit me. I
have always understood that the English are more used to strike
than to thrust, and although in the duel the edge has little chance
against the point, I own that it is altogether different in a melee
on horseback; especially as the point cannot penetrate armour,
while a stout blow, well delivered with a strong arm, can break it
in.

"Are you skilled in the exercises of the ring, Monsieur Philip?"

"Not at all. I have had no practise, whatever, in them. Except in
some of the great houses, the tourney has gone quite out of fashion
in England; and though I can ride a horse across country, I know
nothing whatever of knightly exercises. My father is but a small
proprietor and, up to the time I left England, I have been but a
schoolboy."

"If all your schoolboys understand the use of their arms as you
do," Maitre Charles said courteously, "it is no wonder that the
English are terrible fighters."

"I do not say that," Philip said, smiling. "I have had the
advantage of the best teaching, both English and French, to be had
at Canterbury; and it would be a shame for me, indeed, if I had not
learnt to defend myself."

A servant now entered, and said that the countess desired their
presence, and they at once went to the apartment where the sisters
were talking.

"What do you think, mother?" Francois said. "This cousin of mine,
whom I had intended to patronize, turns out to be already a better
swordsman than I am."

"Not better, madame," Philip said hastily. "We were a fair match,
neither having touched the other."

"Philip is too modest, mother," Francois laughed. "Maitre Charles
stopped us in time to save me from defeat. Why, he has a wrist like
iron, this cousin of mine."

"We have done our best to have him well taught," Madame Vaillant
said. "There were some good swordsmen among our Huguenot friends,
and he has also had the best English teachers we could get for him.
My husband always wished, particularly