uis was almost
for disclosing his method--a method which a little later was to become a
commonplace of the fencing-rooms. Betimes he checked himself. To reveal
his secret would be to destroy the prestige that must accrue to him from
exercising it.

At noon, the academy being empty, M. des Amis called Andre-Louis to one
of the occasional lessons which he still received. And for the first
time in all his experience with Andre-Louis, M. des Amis received
from him a full hit in the course of the first bout. He laughed, well
pleased, like the generous fellow he was.

"Aha! You are improving very fast, my friend." He still laughed, though
not so well pleased, when he was hit in the second bout. After that he
settled down to fight in earnest with the result that Andre-Louis
was hit three times in succession. The speed and accuracy of the
fencing-master when fully exerting himself disconcerted Andre-Louis'
theory, which for want of being exercised in practice still demanded too
much consideration.

But that his theory was sound he accounted fully established, and with
that, for the moment, he was content. It remained only to perfect by
practice the application of it. To this he now devoted himself with
the passionate enthusiasm of the discoverer. He confined himself to a
half-dozen combinations, which he practised assiduously until each had
become almost automatic. And he proved their infallibility upon the best
among M. des Amis' pupils.

Finally, a week or so after that last bout of his with des Amis, the
master called him once more to practice.

Hit again in the first bout, the master set himself to exert all his
skill against his assistant. But to-day it availed him nothing before
Andre-Louis' impetuous attacks.

After the third hit, M. des Amis stepped back and pulled off his mask.

"What's this?" he asked. He was pale, and his dark brows were contracted
in a frown. Not in years had he been so wounded in his self-love. "Have
you been taught a secret botte?"

He had always boasted that he knew too much about the sword to believe
any nonsense about secret bottes; but this performance of Andre-Louis'
had shaken his convictions on that score.

"No," said Andre-Louis. "I have been working hard; and it happens that I
fence with my brains."

"So I perceive. Well, well, I think I have taught you enough, my friend.
I have no intention of having an assistant who is superior to myself."

"Little danger of that," said An