the most powerful, brave, and dextrous men that everexisted, he laid about him so lustily with the chair as tosucceed in his first great object, which was, to extinguishthe lights. Being suddenly all in the dark, the assailantsbegan attacking one another, and a general cry was raisedto abstain from action, but to seek for lights. In the midstof the darkness and confusion, my friend flew down thestairs, and in his way pushed head over heels two servantswho were running up with tapers. Arrived at the greatgateway in the court yard, a man was just in the act ofclosing the exit, when Rambaud sent him sprawling bythe application of the chair to his head and face—passedover his body, leaving the chair behind him, and turningnimbly into the gateway of another great house not fardistant, he entered into a reconnoissance of what had beensaved to him of his clothing, when he found himself minustrowsers, neckcloth, and one boot. A cab happening topass the gate of refuge, he hailed it and came straightto me who had just retired to bed. I sent my valet toRambaud’s house for a suit of cloths, &c., and to informhis excellent and affectionate mother of his being with mefor the purpose of some important fencing match, to comeoff next morning at my house. My friend having givenme a minute account of the scuffle, complained of a painin the back, on which he said he had received a blow of asabre. Upon the entrance of the General into the room hemade a determined thrust at Rambaud with his sword, butthe latter caused it to go through the bottom of the chairhe wielded in his right hand, and then violently pressing itdownwards and forwards, not only disarmed the General, butsent him staggering backwards upon his advancing forces.Having had the luck to extinguish the lights, at which heaimed all his blows, Rambaud got into an ante-room, but,in the darkness and confusion, happening to mistake a
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