"
"Yes, try it!" said Gianluca, from his chair.
"Certainly," answered Taquisara.
Instantly, both fell into position and engaged. Barely crossing foils,
Taquisara executed the feint in question at once, and lunged his fullest
length. But Veronica had thought out the right parry and answer, and was
quicker than he.
His weapon ran past her head without touching her, and as he recovered
himself, hers shot out after him. He uttered an exclamation as it ran
under his arm, with a little soft resistance.
"Touched!" cried Veronica, at the same instant.
He said nothing. Then, a second later, she uttered a sharp cry of
horror, dropped her foil upon the floor and raising her mask stared at
him with wild, white face. Not heeding what she did, she had taken the
sharp foil by mistake. It was dark in the corner where the chest stood.
"It is nothing," he said. "It is nothing, I assure you."
"What is the matter?" asked Gianluca, in astonishment, for he could not
see that the foil had no button.
But Veronica did not answer him. She was close to Taquisara now,
clutching his arm with both hands and staring at the wire mask which
covered his face.
"You are hurt! I know you are hurt!" she said, in a voice faint with
fear.
"Oh no!" he answered, with a short laugh. "I was a little surprised.
Take another foil. It is nothing, I assure you."
"I know you are hurt," she repeated. "Oh God! I might have killed you--"
She felt dizzy, and sick with horror, and she clung to his arm, now, for
support.
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