And so well did he contrive that whilst he became ever of greater assistance to the master--for his style and general fencing, too, had materially improved--he was also a source of pride to him as the most brilliant of all the pupils that had ever passed through his academy. Never did Andre-Louis disillusion him by revealing the fact that his skill was due far more to M. des Amis' library and his own mother wit than to any lessons received.