It was a circle of green on a projecting shoulder of the mountain, bounded by woods that sank toward the now shadowy South-flowing Adige vale, whose Western heights were gathering red colour above a strongly-marked brown line.  Vittoria stood at the border of the wood, leaving the two men to their work.  She knew when speech was useless.

Captain Weisspriess paced behind Angelo until the latter stopped short, saying, ‘Here!’

‘Wherever you please,’ Weisspriess responded.  ’The ground is of more importance to you than to me.’

They faced mutually; one felt the point of his stilet, the other the temper of his sword.

’Killing you, Angelo Guidascarpi, is the killing of a dog.  But there are such things as mad dogs.  This is not a duel.  It is a righteous execution, since you force me to it:  I shall deserve your thanks for saving you from the hangman.  I think you have heard that I can use my weapon.  There’s death on this point for you.  Make your peace with your Maker.’

Weisspriess spoke sternly.  He delayed the lifting of his sword that the bloody soul might pray.

Angelo said, ‘You are a good soldier:  you are a bad priest.  Come on.’

A nod of magnanimous resignation to the duties of his office was the captain’s signal of readiness.  He knew exactly the method of fighting which Angelo must adopt, and he saw that his adversary was supple, and sinewy, and very keen of eye.  But, what can well compensate for even one additional inch of steel?  A superior weapon wielded by a trained wrist in perfect coolness means victory, by every reasonable reckoning.  In the present instance, it meant nothing other than an execution, as he had said.  His contemplation of his own actual share in the performance was nevertheless unpleasant; and it was but half willingly that he straightened out his sword and then doubled his arm.  He lessened the odds in his favour considerably by his too accurate estimation of them.  He was also a little unmanned by the thought that a woman was to see him using his advantage; but she stood firm in her distant corner, refusing to be waved out of sight.  Weisspriess had again to assure himself that it was not a duel, but the enforced execution of a criminal who would not surrender, and who was in his way.  Fronting a creature that would vainly assail him, and temporarily escape impalement by bounding and springing, dodging and backing, now here now there, like a dangling bob-cherry, his military gorge rose with a sickness of disgust.  He had to remember as vividly as he could realize it, that this man’s life was forfeited, and that the slaughter of him was a worthy service to Countess Anna; also, that there were present reasons for desiring to be quit of him.  He gave Angelo two thrusts, and bled him.  The skill which warded off the more vicious one aroused his admiration.

‘Pardon my blundering,’ he said; ’I have never engaged a saltimbanque before.’