‘En garde!’ cried Sir Toby, dropping into a warding stance. All the guests fell silent in tense anticipation as Jack took up position in the centre of the gallery. From painful experience, he knew Sir Toby was a formidable swordsman. He’d have to fight at the top of his game if he was to have any chance of defeating his opponent. On the sidelines, Yori shifted nervously from foot to foot, appearing even more anxious about the impending duel than Jack was.

Sir Toby stared scornfully at Jack, his whole stance exuding a sense of superiority. Jack returned the glare with a blank expression, trying not to give away any of his thoughts, feelings or fears. Whether with weapons or with fists, a fight was first fought in the mind; a battle of wills often determined the outcome. Jack was well versed in such mental combat, so he didn’t let his opponent’s fierce look faze him, despite the rush of adrenalin coursing through his body.

‘Allez!’ cried Sir Henry, commencing the duel.

The two swordsmen stood poised with dagger and rapier in hand, neither willing to make the first move. The crowd watched with bated breath as the two slowly circled one another. This time, Sir Toby was evidently more cautious than in their previous duel. So Jack stamped his front foot, performing an appel and making a feint with his sword.

But Sir Toby wasn’t taken in by the tactic. He stood his ground and didn’t even bother parrying the fake attack. ‘Is that all you’ve taught your mouse, Signor Horatio? To squeak?’

Another round of laughter rippled through the crowd. In that moment of disturbance, Sir Toby lunged, his rapier tip lancing for Jack’s left eye. Thanks only to the rearward stance Jack had been taught was he saved a blinding – the tip stopped a fraction short of his eyeball. Parrying the blade away with his dagger, Jack responded with a rushed riposte. Sir Toby easily deflected the strike and advanced with another jab to the face. Beating the rapier off, Jack bluffed an attack to the head before lunging for the body. Sir Toby leapt aside and blocked the blade with his own dagger. Then he began to force Jack down the hall with a surge of lunges and thrusts.

‘I’ll teach you to give me the lie!’ snarled Sir Toby.

‘You’re the one that’s lying!’ replied Jack, frantically fending off the attacks. ‘I know you have my sister!’

The guests began applauding Sir Toby’s virtuoso display of swordsmanship. And, despite a growing frustration at failing to land a hit, Sir Toby started to show off. He danced round Jack, executing flamboyant blocks and dramatic lunges, playing to his audience.

‘You’re dressed as a fool and you fight like a fool!’ taunted Sir Toby, his rapier probing Jack’s guard for weaknesses.

Jack was forced to retreat under the barrage of blows.