"Yes, once--the first time we engaged. He has disliked me ever since."
"I am rather astonished at you," I said; "where was your finesse?"
"It was quite unintentional. He tried to work a _coup_ that is very
little known. Instead of the regular defence I used one I had myself
developed--and which ends in a wrench. I gave it a bit too vigorously
and the Duke dropped his foil."
Bernheim gave a gruff laugh. "Dropped it!" he exclaimed. "Aye, and so
lightly it flew twenty feet and hit the wall near the roof."
"I think," said I, "I would like to know that _coup_ and its defences."
"They are yours, sir," he said. "But I am at a loss where Lotzen got
the attack. It isn't known to six persons in Europe--even among the
_maïtres_."
"And your own defence?"
"Is, I am sure, known to me, alone. The man, with whom I worked it
out, died a week after it was perfected."
"But, you have fenced with Lotzen frequently since then, you say?"
"Many times, sir."
"Hasn't he invariably used that particular attack?"
"And been met always by the regular defence. I took no chances on his
discovering the secret. I am confident he thinks, now, I disarmed him
by a mere accident."
"I suppose you let him score on you occasionally?" I said.
Moore shook his head. "Never, unless it were the very limit of his
reach. I don't trust him--sometimes, buttons are lost from foils. I
try to be very diplomatic by touching him very infrequently. Though I
rather think it is pearls before swine; for he is too good a fencer not
to see I am sparing him, and too jealously vindictive to appreciate my
courtesy."