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The heart of the young Gascon beat as if it would burst through
his side--not from fear, God he thanked, he had not the shade of
it, but with emulation; he fought like a furious tiger, turning
ten times round his adversary, and changing his ground and his
guard twenty times. Jussac was, as was then said, a fine blade,
and had had much practice; nevertheless it required all his skill
to defend himself against an adversary who, active and energetic,
departed every instant from received rules, attacking him on all
sides at once, and yet parrying like a man who had the greatest
respect for his own epidermis.
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Le cœur du jeune Gascon battait à lui briser la poitrine, non pas de peur,
Dieu merci, il n’en avait pas l’ombre, mais d’émulation ; il se
battait comme un tigre en fureur, tournant dix fois autour de son adversaire,
changeant vingt fois ses gardes et son terrain. Jussac était, comme on le
disait alors, friand de la lame et avait fort pratiqué ; cependant il
avait toutes les peines du monde à se défendre contre un adversaire qui,
agile et bondissant, s’écartait à tout moment des règles reçues,
attaquant de tous côtés à la fois, et tout cela en parant en homme qui a le
plus grand respect pour son épiderme.
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