o easy egress. Instinctively I held
back.

"Monsieur is afraid?" she inquired, then tossed back her head, and
laughed such a low, disdainful, mean laugh, as fired my every nerve to
hear. I hesitated no longer. Let come what will, let the Governor's
errand look to itself, for no man or no woman could ever laugh at me
like that.

Holding my blade at easy command, I stepped inside. Immediately the
door closed, and the rasping of the key told me it was securely locked
as before. Then came regret, but came too late. What I had so
foolishly commenced, I must now see finished. The cup had been taken
in hand and the dice must be thrown.

As we came, I followed her again, though at much closer range. We
crossed the yard diagonally, across the broken panes, bits of casks,
wine bottles and other refuse scattered about. I liked not the aspect
of the place. As the girl was about to enter a door leading inside the
building, a man came down the inner stairs and passed out, coming in
our direction. For the moment he was under the light I had good sight
of him.

A rather low, dark fellow, dressed in the height of the fashion, yet
somewhat flashily withal; not too foppish, he was evidently a young
gallant of the better class. He staggered somewhat from wine, and
carried a magnificent breadth of shoulder, denoting considerable
strength. This was my mental catalogue from the glimpse I caught.

By this time, the lady had got rather within the range of the light;
the man came straight at her, and, to my amazement, despite her
struggles, seized and kissed her. This was before I could reach them.

I was upon him in an instant. Another, and he had reeled back against
the wall, drawing his weapon as he fell. He recovered his feet, my
blade met his, yet each paused, well knowing the deadly lottery of such
a duel in the dark.

The lady ran up as nearly between us as she dared, and besought:

"Oh, Messires, Messires," she plucked me by the sleeve, "do not fight;
there is no need of it."

"Get out of the way you impudent hussy," he commanded, "I'll kill your
meddling lover, like the varlet hound he is."

I went at him in earnest. His further insult to her made every muscle
a cord of steel. I soon found this no mere sport, for the fellow was a
thorough master of his weapon. I was a trifle the taller and had a
longer reach; this, with my heavier blade, gave me well the vantage.
Besides I had touched no wine, and my nerv