Nevertheless, he was breathing hard,
and his livid pallor bore witness to his suppressed anger.
'I know my man thoroughly now,' whispered Sperelli with a smile to
Barbarisi. 'You watch the second round. I mean to pink him on the right
breast.'
As he spoke, he absently rested the point of his rapier on the ground.
The bald young surgeon with the strong jaw immediately came up to him
with a sponge soaked in carbolic acid and proceeded to purify the weapon
again.
'Good heavens!' Andrea exclaimed in a low voice to Barbarisi, 'he has
all the air of a _jettatore_. This rapier is certain to break.'
A thrush began to sing somewhere in the trees. Here and there a rose
scattered its petals on the breeze. Some low-lying fleecy clouds rose to
meet the sun, broke up into airy flakes and gradually dispersed.
'On guard!'
Conscious of his inferiority, Rutolo determined to hamper his opponent's
play, to attack him at close quarters and so break his continuity of
action. For this he enjoyed the advantage of shorter stature and a frame
which, being wiry, thin and flexible, offered but little mark to the
other's weapon.
Andrea foresaw that Rutolo would adopt this plan. He stood on guard,
bent like a taut bow, watching for the right moment.
'Halt!' cried Santa Margherita.
A streak of blood showed on Rutolo's breast. The rapier had penetrated,
just under the right breast, almost to the rib.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133