The Count of Monte Cristo

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the provocation, and when he had given it he had supposed each would use
his own arms. The witnesses endeavored to insist, but the president
bade them be silent. The lantern was placed on the ground, the two
adversaries took their stations, and the duel began. The light made the
two swords appear like flashes of lightning; as for the men, they were
scarcely perceptible, the darkness was so great.

"'General d'Epinay passed for one of the best swordsmen in the army, but
he was pressed so closely in the onset that he missed his aim and fell.
The witnesses thought he was dead, but his adversary, who knew he had
not struck him, offered him the assistance of his hand to rise. The
circumstance irritated instead of calming the general, and he rushed on
his adversary. But his opponent did not allow his guard to be broken.
He received him on his sword and three times the general drew back on
finding himself too closely engaged, and then returned to the charge. At
the third he fell again. They thought he slipped, as at first, and the
witnesses, seeing he did not move, approached and endeavored to raise