第32章 How the Brigadier Triumphed in England(2)

How foolish of me, the old, broken man, to dwell upon these successes, and yet I will confess that my age has been very much soothed and comforted by the memory of the women who have loved me and the men whom I have overcome.It is pleasant to think that five years afterward, when Lord Rufton came to Paris after the peace, he was able to assure me that my name was still a famous one in the north of Devonshire for the fine exploits that I had performed.Especially, he said, they still talked over my boxing match with the Honourable Baldock.It came about in this way.Of an evening many sportsmen would assemble at the house of Lord Rufton, where they would drink much wine, make wild bets, and talk of their horses and their foxes.How well I remember those strange creatures.Sir Barrington, Jack Lupton, of Barnstable, Colonel Addison, Johnny Miller, Lord Sadler, and my enemy, the Honourable Baldock.They were of the same stamp all of them, drinkers, madcaps, fighters,gamblers, full of strange caprices and extraordinary whims.Yet they were kindly fellows in their rough fashion, save only this Baldock, a fat man, who prided himself on his skill at the box-fight.It was he who, by his laughter against the French because they were ignorant of sport, caused me to challenge him in the very sport at which he excelled.You will say that it was foolish, my friends, but the decanter had passed many times, and the blood of youth ran hot in my veins.I would fight him, this boaster; I would show him that if we had not skill at least we had courage.Lord Rufton would not allow it.I insisted.The others cheered me on and slapped me on the back."No, dash it, Baldock, he's our guest," said Rufton."It's his own doing," the other answered."Look here, Rufton, they can't hurt each other if they wear the mawleys," cried Lord Sadler.And so it was agreed.

What the mawleys were I did not know, but presently they brought out four great puddings of leather, not unlike a fencing glove, but larger.With these our hands were covered after we had stripped ourselves of our coats and our waistcoats.Then the table, with the glasses and decanters, was pushed into the corner of the room, and behold us; face to face! Lord Sadler sat in the arm-chair with a watch in his open hand."Time!" said he.

I will confess to you, my friends, that I felt at that moment a tremor such as none of my many duels have ever given me.With sword or pistol I am at home, but here I only understood that I must struggle with this fat Englishman and do what I could, in spite of these great puddings upon my hands, to overcome him.And at the very outset I was disarmed of the best weapon that was left to me."Mind, Gerard, no kicking!" said Lord Rufton in my ear.I had only a pair of thin dancing slippers, and yet the man was fat, and a few well-directed kicks might have left me the victor.But there is an etiquette just as there is in fencing, and I refrained.I looked at this Englishman and I wondered how I should attack him.His ears were large and prominent.Could I seize them I might drag him to the ground.I rushed in, but I was betrayed by this flabby glove, and twice I lost my hold.He struck me, but I cared little for his blows, and again I seized him by the ear.He fell, and I rolled upon him andthumped his head upon the ground.

How they cheered and laughed, these gallant Englishmen, and how they clapped me on the back!

"Even money on the Frenchman," cried Lord Sadler.

"He fights foul," cried my enemy, rubbing his crimson ears."He savaged me on the ground.""You must take your chance of that," said Lord Rufton, coldly."Time!" cried Lord Sadler, and once again we advanced to the assault.

He was flushed, and his small eyes were as vicious as those of a bull- dog.There was hatred on his face.For my part I carried myself lightly and gaily.A French gentleman fights but he does not hate.I drew myself up before him, and I bowed as I have done in the duello.

There can be grace and courtesy as well as defiance in a bow; I put all three into this one, with a touch of ridicule in the shrug which accompanied it.It was at this moment that he struck me.The room spun round me.I fell upon my back.But in an instant I was on my feet again and had rushed to a close combat.His ear, his hair, his nose, I seized them each in turn.Once again the mad joy of the battle was in my veins.The old cry of triumph rose to my lips."Vive l'Empereur!" I yelled as I drove my head into his stomach.He threw his arm round my neck, and holding me with one hand he struck me with the other.I buried my teeth in his arm, and he shouted with pain."Call him off, Rufton!" he screamed.

"Call him off, man! He's worrying me!" They dragged me away from him.Can I ever forget it?--the laughter, the cheering, the congratulations! Even my enemy bore me no ill-will, for he shook me by the hand.For my part I embraced him on each cheek.Five years afterward I learned from Lord Rufton that my noble bearing upon that evening was still fresh in the memory of my English friends.