The Duellists Revisited

Here is what I think: First, the civilian tried to execute a prise de fer of seconde, but failed because Gabriel Féraud executed a disengagement. Then, he swung his blade back to execute a prise de fer of prime. Again, Féraud execute a disengagement and evaded his preparation of attack.

They broke and then started again. This time Féraud attacked and the civilian executed ceding parries of seconde and prime. Both parries were wild. Féraud must have realized by now that his opponent's skills were inadequate when compared to his and this embolden him.

The next attack initiated by Féraud was simple attacks almost aimed to toy with his oppoenent. Féraud executed a cut to cheek then changed to a low line attack of octave, then he disengaged to attack on septime. They broke again and renewed.

This time Féraud made a small feint thrust (more a provocation than a real attack as it was not even threating) at octave and the civilian panicked and made two circular parries (to seconde and then prime) and again both were wild and he broke away. It was really all over by now as it was abundently clear that the civilian has nothing more up his sleeves.

Féraud now executed a cut to head or cheek more as a feint than an attack, then he changed to the low line attack of octave and then changed back up to the high line attack at tierce.

Féraud now taunted the civilian with a beat on his blade. This is not a prepration of attack as there was no attack following. It was a taunt--a gesture of contempt. This provoked the civilian and he took the bait and attacked. He made a simple straight thrust at Féraud and Féraud execute a circular parry and riposte to septime. The civilain tried to catch Féraud's blade with his non-weapon hand and got slashed. He's now even more frustrated and upset. He renewed his attack with a low thrust at septime. Féraud caught his blade with a circular parry while retreating to keep his distance. Féraud made what I think a horizontal cut from the high line to the low septime. The executed a parry of prime and then a parry to seconde, before a riposite to to tierce with a simple thrust which ran through the civilian.