all my skill to hold my own, even for a short time. Moore was, far and
away, the best fencer I had ever encountered; and I thought I had faced
about all the famous ones of first force. His agility was amazing; his
wrist like steel; his anticipation masterly. For every time I touched
him, he touched me twice; though none, on either side, would have been
more than a scratch. Then, in the midst of a fierce rally, I forced a
pretty opening and I thrust. No guard seemed possible--it was a sure
_coeur_. The next instant, there came a wrench, that almost tore off
my fingers, and my foil flew across the room. Moore had led me into
the final position of Lotzen's attack, and had disarmed me exactly as
he had the Duke.

I held out my left hand to him--the right still tingled.

"Beautiful!" I said. "It's a marvellous defence and marvellously done."

Moore bowed very low over my hand. "It is a pleasure to serve under
Your Highness," he said.

"Aye! that it is," said Bernheim.

He would be a very queer individual who would not be affected by such
sincerity; and I told them so, and feelingly.

Then Moore showed me the attack and its two defences; and I practiced
them with him until I had them perfectly at command.

"What would be my chances against Lotzen?" I asked.

"You could kill him easily," said Moore. "Only, be careful of his play
in tierce; he is very strong in that."

"I don't know that I want to kill him," I said. "Yet, neither do I
care for him to kill me."

Both looked at me in quick interrogation. I motioned for them to sit
down.

"I've had a visit from the Duke, this afternoon," I said. And I told
them the entire interview.

Bernheim smiled sourly, when I had ended.

"You may have good use, sir, for that trick of fence," he said.
"Lotzen means mischief and that promptly."

"Evidently, his visit with His Majesty and the Princess was not to his
satisfaction," Moore remarked; "and, if Your Highness can ascertain
just what did occur there, I'll wager it will account for his conduct
to-day."

"And it would be just as well for Your Highness to wear a steel vest,"
said Bernheim; "it's very handy to turn a knife or a revolver bullet."

I laughed, "Of course, steel vests are such ordinary articles of
attire they can be purchased in any shop."

"I'll supply the vest," he answered, "if Your Highness will use it."

"It seems absurd," I declared.

"It's a wise precaution, sir," Moore urged.

"On