Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

300 “Ten thousand devils, Clovelly! Are you mad?” “You speak of prices and purchases. I can pay a great price, sir.” “Of pirate gold, Clovelly?” sneered the duke. “Of pirate gold, my lord. Do you see?” And, slipping his rapier from its sheath, he made it swerve so dexterously through the air that the yellow lamplight flashed solid upon it. “Ah!” cried Ipswich. “Is that the ' tune? You will murder me to take the girl safely away with you?” “Tf it is necessary,” said Clovelly calm- ly, “I shall stab you to the heart, my lord, and take my wife away with me.” His grace turned crimson with anger. His rapier hissed and hummed in the air; he brought it forth with so much violence. Then he saluted Clovelly deliberately. “You are already half-spent with fight- ing Lascelle,”’ he observed. “Do you de- liberately challenge me in spite of that?” “In the name of God,” said Clovelly, © begin!” ‘¢ She is worth the price!” cried his grace, as if the picture of her beauty had at that instant flashed more brightly across his memory. “Clovelly, you are right. Gold cannot buy a woman. The metal is too base. The steel alone is worthy of her. On guard!” He gasped out the last word as he lunged with fury. His sword was flicked away with a touch of the other blade so soft that it was like the pressure of a bare hand. And the duke suddenly was aware that it was one thing to see Clovelly fence—it was quite another to feel his opposition. A thousand light, quick hands seemed to surround Clovelly and pushed danger gen- tly away from him. For a moment he stood on the defense. Then he began to attack. ‘His grace was a brave man, a thousand times proved. Moreover, he was an ex- quisite fencer who fought like an artist of infinite invention. To the very last he would be dangerous. But against the rush of Clovelly’s attack, against that onslaught of a dozen schools of fence, he was carried back as a log be- fore a tide. Through the door of the study ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. and into the larger chamber beyond he re- treated, where the clicking of steel on steel sounded smaller and colder and raised many little echoes from the walls. Still he kept a good front while his breath held, but when his wind was gone he was helpless. The point of Clovelly’s rapier flickered before his eyes. “Your grace,” gasped Clovelly, ‘let us make an end. You see that the advantage is in my hand, but God forbid that I should use it—” “Damn your courtesy,” said the noble- man hotly. “I am as ready to die now as a year hence!” : And with this, he rushed blindly in upon Clovelly. The latter might have killed him three times during that blind advance, but instead, he chose to glide out of the way, dancing back until Ipswich should come to his senses. Then fate took a hand against the con- queror. Clovelly’s foot lodged on a small rug which slipped from beneath him as if the floor had been greased. He landed heav- ily upon his side, his wrist striking so solidly that the nerves were numbed, the rapier clattered from his fingers, and he lay pros- trate and helpless before his enemy. It appeared for an instant that Ipswich would pass his weapon through the body of his opponent. He leaned above him with his face swollen and reddened by exertion, his sword quivering in his hand. ‘Surrender, Clovelly!” he commanded. ‘The devil has played on your side,” an- swered Clovelly. will. I shall not surrender.’’ “You are in my hands.” ‘Stab and be damned!” CHAPTER XXXII. AN UNENDURABLE DOUBT. IS grace was often cruel, but never H wantonly so. Now he shook his head. : “Tf you were any other man in Eng- land,” he said at last, “‘ I’d send the blade through you, Clovelly. But I’ve an idea that you are a man of honor, my friend. . ! > Q - Rise! Gomichbooks.co a) ‘Do with me what you _