The weapon was gradually lowered as their stiffened limbs grew fatigued. Étienne twice felt the cold sensation of the steel against his skin; and he had to make a supreme effort, so crushing the other's wrist that the knife slipped from his hand.
L'arme s'abaissait peu a peu, leurs membres raidis se fatiguaient, deux fois Étienne eut la sensation froide de l'acier contre sa peau; et il dut faire un effort supreme, il broya le poignet dans une telle étreinte, que le couteau glissa de la main ouverte.