Free The Universe Twister by Keith Laumer, edited by Eric Flint Page B

sport. I read a dandy book on it just last month. The emphasis on the point rather than the edge, you know. The saber and epée—"
    "I'm not unfamiliar with rapier form," Alain said grimly. "In fact, I'd welcome an opportunity to give you lessons."
    Lafayette laughed indulgently. " You teach me ? Al, old fellow, if you only knew how foolish that sounds. After all, what could you possibly know that I don't, eh?" He chuckled.
    "Then, Sir Nobody, perhaps your worship would condescend to undertake my instruction!"
    "Alain!" Adoranne started.
    "It's all right, Adoranne," O'Leary said. "Might be fun at that. How about tomorrow afternoon?"
    "Tomorrow? Ha! And overnight you'd scuttle for safety, I doubt not, and we'd see no more of you and your pretensions! 'Tis not so easy as that, knave. The inner courtyard is moon-bright! Let's repair to our lessons without further chatter!"
    Nicodaeus was at Lafayette's side. "Ah, Count Alain," he said smoothly. "May I suggest—"
    "You may not!" Alain's eyes found O'Leary's. "I'll await you in the courtyard." He bobbed his head to the princess, turned on his heel and pushed his way through the gaping circle of onlookers who at once streamed away in his wake.
    "All this excitement about a fencing lesson," O'Leary said. "These people are real sports fans."
    "Sir Lafayette," Adoranne said breathlessly, "you need not heed the count's ill-natured outburst. I'll command that he beg your forgiveness."
    "Oh, it's all right. The fresh air will do me good. I'm feeling those cognacs a little, I'm afraid."
    "Lafayette, how cool you are in the face of danger. Here." She took a lacy handkerchief from somewhere and pressed it in Lafayette's hand. "Wear this and please, deal generously with him." Then she was gone.
    "Adoranne—" O'Leary began. A hand took his arm.
    "Lafayette," Nicodaeus said at his ear. "Do you know what you're doing? Alain is the top swordsman in the Guards Regiment."
    "I'm just giving him a few tips on saber technique. He—"
    "Tips? The man's a master fencer! He'll have his point under your ribs before you can say Sam Katzman!"
    "Nonsense. It's all just good clean fun."
    "Fun? The man is furious!"
    Lafayette looked thoughtful. "Do you really think he's mad?"
    "Just this side of frothing at the mouth," Nicodaeus assured him. "He's been number one with Adoranne for some time now—until you came along and cut him out of the pattern."
    "Jealous, eh? Poor fellow, if he only knew . . ."
    "Only knew what?" Nicodaeus asked sharply.
    "Nothing." He slapped Nicodaeus heartily on the back. "Now let's go out and see what he can do."

Chapter V
    The courtyard was a grim rectangle of granite walled in by the looming rear elevations of the servant's residential wings of the palace, gleaming coldly in the light of a crescent moon. The chill in the air had sharpened; it was close to freezing now. Lafayette looked around at the crowd that had gathered to watch the fencing lesson. They formed a ring three or four deep around the circumference of the impromptu arena, bundled in cloaks, stamping their feet and conversing in low, excited mutters. The wagers being made, O'Leary noted, were two to one in favor of the opposition.
    "I'll take your coat," Nicodaeus said briskly. O'Leary pulled it off, shivered as a blast of frigid wind flapped his shirt against his back. Twenty feet away, Count Alain, looking bigger than ever in shirt sleeves, chatted casually with two elegant-looking seconds, who glanced his way once, nodded coldly, and thereafter ignored him.
    "Ah, I see the surgeon is on hand." Nicodaeus pointed out a portly man in a long gray cloak. "Not that there'll be much he can do. Count Alain always goes for the heart."
    The count had accepted his blade from one of his aides now; he flexed it, tested its point with a finger and made a series of cuts at the air.
    "I'd better warm up, too," O'Leary drew his rapier from its scabbard, finding it necessary to use both hands to get the point clear. "It's kind