Buckingham, a proud, self-important individual, was standing near the
door and saw it all. Now Buckingham was one of those unfortunate
persons who never lose an opportunity to make a mistake, and being
anxious to display his zeal on behalf of the princess stepped up to
prevent Brandon's entrance.

"Sir, you will have to move out of this," he said pompously. "You are
not at a jousting bout. You have made a mistake and have come to the
wrong place."

"My Lord of Buckingham is pleased to make rather more of an ass of
himself than usual this evening," replied Brandon with a smile, as he
started across the room to Mary, whose eye he had caught. She had seen
and heard it all, but instead of coming to his relief stood there
laughing to herself. At this Buckingham grew furious and ran around
ahead of Brandon, valiantly drawing his sword.

"Now, by heaven! fellow, make but another step and I will run you
through," he said.

I saw it all, but could hardly realize what was going on, it came so
quickly and was over so soon. Like a flash Brandon's sword was out of
its sheath, and Buckingham's blade was flying toward the ceiling.
Brandon's sword was sheathed again so quickly that one could hardly
believe it had been out at all, and, picking up Buckingham's, he said
with a half-smothered laugh:

"My lord has dropped his sword." He then broke its point with his heel
against the hard floor, saying: "I will dull the point, lest my lord,
being unaccustomed to its use, wound himself." This brought peals of