Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 11
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WhatcouldthedoltdobutgrudginglyaccepttheamendsIsofreelyprofferedhim?YetIknew,asLanfrancandIhastenedon,thateremanydays,orhours,theflame-headedyouthwouldseetoitthatwemeasuredsteeltogetheronthegrass.
IexplainednomoretoLanfrancthanmyneedofhim,andhewaslittleinterestedtoprydeeperintothematter.Hewashimselfalivelyyoungsterofnomorethantwenty,buthehadbeentrainedtoarms,hadfoughtinSpain,andhadanhonourablerecordonthegrass.Merelyhisblackeyesflashedwhenhelearnedwhatwastoward,andsuchwashiseagernessthatitwashewhogatheredHenryBohemondintoournumber.
Whenthethreeofusarrivedintheopenspacebeyondthefish-pondFortiniandtwofriendswerealreadywaitingus.OnewasFelixPasquini,nephewtotheCardinalofthatname,andascloseinhisuncle’sconfidenceaswashisunclecloseintheconfidenceofthegrayoldman.TheotherwasRaouldeGoncourt,whosepresencesurprisedme,hebeingtoogoodandnobleamanforthecompanyhekept.
Wesalutedproperly,andproperlywentaboutthebusiness.Itwasnothingnewtoanyofus.Thefootingwasgood,aspromised.Therewasnodew.Themoonshonefair,andFortini’sbladeandminewereoutandatearnestplay.
ThisIknew:goodswordsmanastheyreckonedmeinFrance,Fortiniwasabetter.
