m a gentleman of his
long and varied experience.

"The Heer Adrian called van Goorl, as I live!" he said. "My friend and
pupil, I am glad to see you; but, if I might ask, although the times are
rough, why in this narrow room do you wave about a naked rapier in that
dangerous fashion?"

"Villain," answered Adrian, "you know why; you have betrayed me and
mine, and I am dishonoured, and now I am going to kill you in payment."

"I see," said Ramiro, "the van Goorl affair again. I can never be clear
of it for half an hour even. Well, before you begin, it may interest you
to know that your worthy stepfather, after a couple of days' fasting, is
by now, I suppose, free, for the rabble have stormed the Gevangenhuis.
Truth, however, compels me to add that he is suffering badly from the
plague, which your excellent mother, with a resource that does
her credit, managed to communicate to him, thinking this end less
disagreeable on the whole than that which the law had appointed."

Thus spoke Ramiro, slowly and with purpose, for all the while he was
so manoeuvring that the light from the lattice fell full upon his
antagonist, leaving himself in the shadow, a position which experience
taught him would prove of advantage in emergency.

Adrian made no answer, but lifted his sword.

"One moment, young gentleman," went on Ramiro, drawing his own weapon
and putting himself on guard; "are you in earnest? Do you really wish to
fight?"

"Yes," answered Adrian.

"What a fool you must be," mused Ramiro. "Why at your age should you
seek to be rid of life, seeing that you have no more chance against me
than a rat in a corner against a terrier dog? Look!" and suddenly he
lunged most viciously straight at his heart. But Adrian was watching and
parried the thrust.

"Ah!" continued Ramiro, "I knew you would do that, otherwise I should
not have let fly, for all the angels know I do not wish to hurt you."
But to himself he added, "The lad is more dangerous than I thought--my
life hangs on it. The old fault, friend, too high, too high!"

Then Adrian came at him like a tiger, and for the next thirty seconds
nothing was heard in the room but the raspings of steel and the hard
breathing of the two men.

At first Adrian had somewhat the better of it, for his assault was
fierce, and he forced the older and cooler man to be satisfied with
guarding himself. He did more indeed, for presently thrusting over
Ramiro's guard, he wounded him slightly i