“I’m not looking for apologies,” smiled Merry. “The club was not responsible for Darleton’s act.”
“But we feel greatly humiliated5 by it. He will be severely6 censured7. He may be expelled.”
“Oh, that’s too much! I must protest against such an extreme measure.”
“He deserves to be expelled,” put in Hodge.
“You are right,” agreed Morton. “Between us, I believe it would be a good thing for the club.”
“How so?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
In the reception room of the club there was a great gathering8 waiting to get another look at Frank. The president of the club met him as he appeared and hastened to express regrets over the action of Darleton at the finish of the bout9. Frank was sincere in making excuses for his late antagonist10.
“But Darleton must apologize,” declared the president. “We cannot have any visitor insulted in such a manner without seeing that an apology is made.”
“I haven’t asked for an apology on my account.”
“We demand it on our own account. He has been told that he must apologize publicly, as the insult was offered publicly.”
“Well, he’ll find me ready to pardon him freely and just as willing to forget the occurrence.”
“You are generous, Mr. Merriwell.”
During the next thirty minutes Merry was kept busy shaking hands with those who were eager to express their good will.
That night in Omaha he made a host of admirers and friends who would never forget him, and who would ever stand ready to uphold him on any occasion.
Many of those present seemed lingering for something. A few departed, but the majority waited on.
Finally Fred Darleton, accompanied by Grant Hardy11 and followed by a number of boon12 companions, entered the room.
Darleton was pale and nervous. He glanced about the place, and an expression of resentment13 passed over his face as he noted14 the number who had lingered. For a moment he seemed to hesitate; then he advanced toward Frank, who sat near the centre of the room, with his comrades and the club members about him.
Merry rose as he saw his late opponent.
“Mr. Merriwell,” said Darleton, in a low tone, his words being almost inaudible at a distance of ten feet, “I have to offer you an apology for my hasty act of anger in striking you across the mask with my foil.”
“That’s all right,” declared Frank. “Forget it, Darleton.”
Merry offered his hand.
Darleton pretended he did not see this, and turned away at once.
Frank smiled and dropped his hand; but Bart Hodge gave vent15 to a suppressed exclamation16 of anger.
The action of the defeated fencer in declining to shake hands with his conqueror17 was noted by all in the room, and most of them felt annoyed and disgusted by this added slight after the forced apology.
Darleton left the room, without glancing to the right or left, and his companions followed closely.
“I knew he was a cur!” said Hodge, in a low, harsh tone.
The president and other members were annoyed and chagrined19, but Frank found a method of passing the matter over by quickly awakening20 a discussion concerning the bouts21 of the finals.
A few minutes later Fran?ois L’Estrange appeared. He advanced swiftly and grasped Frank’s hand.
“My dear sare,” he cried, “you give me ze very great astonishment22 to-night. You are ze—ze—what you call it?—ze Jim Dandy! Oui! You nevare learn so much about ze foil in ze American college. Eet is impossible!”
“Well,” smiled Merry, “I don’t think I told you I obtained all my knowledge and skill at college.”
“You mention ze school first. You begin young. Zat ees good! Zat is splendid! Zat ees ze way to make ze feenish fencer, ze same as ze feenish musician or ze feenish beelyarde player. But ze school, ze college, both together zey never gif you all you know. You have ze command, ze skill, ze technique! Eef you choose, sare, you make ze master fencer.”
“Thank you, professor,” said Merry. “I fear you are flattering me.”
“O-oo, no, no! I spik ze truth! You have traveled?”
“Yes.”
“You have visited France?”
“Yes.”
“I knew eet! In France you take ze fencing lesson from some famous master of ze art. You have ze French method. I do not say you have eet yet to completeness. I belief I could advance you to ze very great extent. But before you had finished ze engagement I knew you had received instruction from ze French master.”
“But not in France.”
“No? Zen where?”
“In New York.”
“O-oo!” L’Estrange threw up his hands. “Zen I know! Oui! Oui! Zere ees but one man—Pierre Lafont. You have from me ze congratulation, sare. I know Pierre Lafont in France. He fight three duel23, and in not one did he get even ze scratch. Each time he seriously disable his antagonist. But his son, Louis—zey say he ees ze wondaire.”
For a time the professor rattled24 on in this enthusiastic manner, and his talk was very interesting. Although it was known to every one that he felt deep chagrin18 over the defeat of his finest pupil, he was now the soul of generosity25 in his behavior toward the victor. His manner was greatly in contrast to that of the churlish Darleton.
Before departing L’Estrange made an appointment to meet Merry in the club the following afternoon for the purpose of fencing with him.
“I wish to make ze test of your full ability, Meestare Merriwell,” smiled the affable Frenchman. “I theenk I discovaire one or two little weaknesses in your style zat may be corrected quickly. Eet will give me pleasure to make ze improvement in you—if you wish eet.”
“I’m always anxious to learn, professor,” answered Merry.
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收听单词发音
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1
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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2
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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3
wagered
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| v.在（某物）上赌钱，打赌( wager的过去式和过去分词 )；保证，担保 | |
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4
clique
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| n.朋党派系，小集团 | |
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5
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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6
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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7
censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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8
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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9
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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10
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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11
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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12
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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13
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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14
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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15
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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16
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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17
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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18
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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19
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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21
bouts
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| n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作 | |
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22
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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23
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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24
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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25
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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