At the fencing club last night, one of the other coaches came up to the strip where I was giving a lesson. He was holding an old, well-used foil. “The lady at the desk said she found this in the equipment room. Who uses a left-handed Vniti blade with a Prieur socket?” Well, that would be me. I had lent such a weapon (one of my favorites) to a visitor last year, and when it vanished I assumed I’d never see it again.

So I expressed my gratitude and tossed the cheap Chinese weapon I’d been using into a corner. The student said, “Here, my lord, is your ancient blade. It was found in his chest.”

I hadn’t known he was one of our Fellowship. Meeting a new friend is always a pleasure.