‘Don’t dance to his rhythm!’ Signor Horatio called out. ‘Steal his sword and attack in every defence!’

Heeding his sword master’s advice, Jack managed to perform a prise de fer – taking control of Sir Toby’s blade and shifting it into another line. This broke his opponent’s rhythm, allowing Jack to retaliate with a stab to the throat. Sir Toby blocked it and immediately countered. But now, for every deflection made, Jack had a follow-up attack. The week of intense training under Signor Horatio had paid dividends and Jack found he was able to match Sir Toby strike for strike, thrust for thrust. The clink of steel rang out through the gallery as the two duellers fought furiously.

The crowd now applauded Jack’s comeback and soon shouts of encouragement to Sir Toby were met by calls of ‘Jack! Jack! Jack!’, his friends’ voices loudest among his supporters.

No longer overwhelmed by the speed or reach of his enemy’s attacks, Jack regained some ground. Still Sir Toby showed off, hopping and skipping round Jack’s rapier like a springtime hare. But Jack didn’t discourage this boastful behaviour; he was biding his time for the moment his opponent made a fatal mistake.

‘You couldn’t stick a pin in a pincushion!’ Sir Toby laughed, avoiding Jack’s strike to the hip and countering with a circular thrust. And there was the mistake. Sir Toby had inadvertently opened up his guard with the circular attack.

Jack made a lunge at Sir Toby’s exposed heart … but immediately found his rapier pressed off line and Sir Toby’s own blade heading for the target of his heart. Jack resisted the press, jumping aside, but the blade tore through his costume. A gasp went up from the crowd, followed by a hesitant shout of ‘First blood!’

However, when Sir Toby retracted the blade, there was no blood. The sword had pierced only cloth, not flesh. Before Sir Toby could attempt a second thrust, Jack rapidly retreated again.

‘Don’t be fooled by his flashy sword work, signor!’ called Signor Horatio from the sidelines. ‘He’s showing off on purpose to draw you in.’

‘I realize that now!’ gasped Jack before resuming his attack.

But, whatever he tried, Sir Toby had a counter. Thrust met parry. Lunge met block. Feints were ignored and binds resisted. He even performed a second prise de fer to no avail. It seemed that Sir Toby had got bored with playing with Jack and was now fighting to finish the duel.