Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: XV. MASTER AND VALET. When the business of the day was over—and not before—Tradescant took Herbert to his own room, in order to give him the promised lesson in fencing. Producing a couple of foils, Tradescant bade him stand on guard, and as Herbert complied, his air and deportment satisfied the other that he would prove no contemptible antagonist. The result of an hour's practice confirmed the good opinion which Tradescant had formed of his cousin's address. As may be expected, however, Herbert hadsome faults. Possessing in an eminent degree the essentials of the art—quickness of sight, agility of wrist, great flexibility of frame, firmness and swiftness in delivering a thrust, rapidity in parrying and returning, and, above all, remarkable coolness — he was unacquainted with many of the subtleties at that time practised by the most skilful swordsmen, and it was to supply his deficiency in this respect that Tradescant chiefly addressed himself. Herbert proved an apt scholar, and quickly comprehended the instructions given him. The lesson ended, Tradescant pointed to his collection of swords, and begged Herbert to examine them, and select a weapon that suited him. " You'll find them of all sizes," he said; " but though you are a tall fellow, I advise you not to choose too long a sword, as if your adversary should get the feeble of your blade, you might find it difficult to disengage your point, and so give him the advantage. Here's a French sword, and a capital one it is. You shall judge of itstemper," he added, bending it almost double against the floor, and then allowing it to spring forcibly backwards. " Take it. You won't find a better." "A beautiful blade indeed!" exclaimed Herbert, as he took the weapon, " and, though very light in hand, not likely to break."...
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