After Lotzen had gone, and I was able to do a bit of reflecting, I was
pretty well convinced that he had got about as much out of me as I had
out of him. Of course, our mutual distrust and dislike were now openly
avowed; but we had known it quite as well before--just as he had been
aware of my designs on the Crown and my partiality for the Princess,
and, I, of his purpose to defeat me for both. He had, to use a
military term, made a reconnoissance in force; and I had tried to meet
him in kind and to prevent him uncovering my exact position. How well
I had succeeded, however, was very problematical; for I could not know
what particular information he sought. I was satisfied, however, his
main purpose was to discover whether I had any knowledge or suspicion
of him being back of Madeline Spencer. And I was not so sure I had
bluffed him. I began to fancy he had seen through me, at once, and had
played me off against myself, so to speak. And, the longer I
meditated, the more the fancy gripped me. Finally, in disgust, I
summoned Bernheim and Moore.
"Which of you," said I, "will do me the favor of a few passes with the
foils?"
Of course, they both offered.
"Good," said I; "I'll take you, in turn. Send an orderly to the armory
for the paraphernalia."
I fell to divesting myself of my upper garments, and Bernheim and Moore
followed suit.
"By the way," I said, "what sort of a fencer is Lotzen?"
Bernheim turned and looked at me, sharply. Moore stopped with his
shirt half off and did the same.
"There is only one better in Valeria," said Bernheim.
"So!" said I. "And he?"
The grey eyes twinkled and he actually smiled as he answered.
"Colonel Moore, of Your Highness's Personal Staff."
It was my turn to be surprised. "Then, he is a very modest gentleman,"
I said.
"Like master like man," was the ready Irish reply.
"You're a sad blarneyer," I laughed. "You will be letting me disarm
you, next."
"No I won't, sir, voluntarily," he answered. "You are not the Lotzen
sort."
"You have fenced with him?"
"Frequently."
"And disarmed him?"