Not knowing the conditions, such a request cannot, and must not, be listened to. She cannot wish your death rather than his. Women don't understand these things. You must not be bound."
"I have reasoned it out in my own way," I answered with a smile, "and I shall observe the condition."
"By Heaven, I would have had no hand in it at all had I foreseen this. But I suppose she does not wish you to be killed like a sheep, without an effort," he cried excitedly. "You can wound him, at any rate. But die you must not. We cannot spare you, Count; she cannot, she does not, know what she asks."
"When you think it over calmly you will see she is right. He must not die by my hand, things being as they are." He knew what I meant, and had no answer to it. He wrung my hand, much affected; and, after a moment, growled into his moustache:
"Hang the women; they spoil everything."
"Remember," I said, warningly, "if things go badly with me, give my message—but no reproaches. She must know nothing except that I was beaten by the Duke's superior skill. On your honour, Zoiloff?"
"On my honour," he answered; and, as I was ready, we went forward together.
The Duke eyed me with a look of hate, and it was easy to see he meant to do his worst. As our swords crossed, and we engaged, I seemed to feel the thrill of his passion, as if it were an electric current passing through the steel.
He fought well and cleverly, but he was not my match. I had been trained in a better school, and held him at bay without much difficulty. I was much cooler, too, than he; and his fiery temper made him too eager to press the fight.
