cer. And I was not so sure I had
bluffed him. I began to fancy he had seen through me, at once, and had
played me off against myself, so to speak. And, the longer I
meditated, the more the fancy gripped me. Finally, in disgust, I
summoned Bernheim and Moore.

"Which of you," said I, "will do me the favor of a few passes with the
foils?"

Of course, they both offered.

"Good," said I; "I'll take you, in turn. Send an orderly to the armory
for the paraphernalia."

I fell to divesting myself of my upper garments, and Bernheim and Moore
followed suit.

"By the way," I said, "what sort of a fencer is Lotzen?"

Bernheim turned and looked at me, sharply. Moore stopped with his
shirt half off and did the same.

"There is only one better in Valeria," said Bernheim.

"So!" said I. "And he?"

The grey eyes twinkled and he actually smiled as he answered.

"Colonel Moore, of Your Highness's Personal Staff."

It was my turn to be surprised. "Then, he is a very modest gentleman,"
I said.

"Like master like man," was the ready Irish reply.

"You're a sad blarneyer," I laughed. "You will be letting me disarm
you, next."

"No I won't, sir, voluntarily," he answered. "You are not the Lotzen
sort."

"You have fenced with him?"

"Frequently."

"And disarmed him?"

I saw Bernheim smile.

"Yes, once--the first time we engaged. He has disliked me ever since."

"I am rather astonished at you," I said; "where was your finesse?"

"It was quite unintentional. He tried to work a _coup_ that is very
little known. Instead of the regular defence I used one I had myself
developed--and which ends in a wrench. I gave it a bit too vigorously
and the Duke dropped his foil."

Bernheim gave a gruff laugh. "Dropped it!" he exclaimed. "Aye, and so
lightly it flew twenty feet and hit the wall near the roof."

"I think," said I, "I would like to know that _coup_ and its defences."

"They are yours, sir," he said. "But I am at a loss where Lotzen got
the attack. It isn't known to six persons in Europe--even among the
_maitres_."

"And your own defence?"

"Is, I am sure, known to me, alone. The man, with whom I worked it
out, died a week after it was perfected."

"But, you have fenced with Lotzen frequently since then, you say?"

"Many times, sir."

"Hasn't he invariably used that particular attack?"

"And been met always by the regular defence. I took no chances on his
discovering the secret. I am con