"And I was rather foolishly infatuated with Victoria," he continues, shaking his head and letting out another breath.

"I had come to the conclusion that it might be a good idea to ... stage a duel with some of the other boys. I would come out looking like the winner - and thus, I would undoubtedly impress her." He scratches his head. "Only, it didn't quite turn out that way.

"I was a highly uncoordinated fourteen-year-old boy, and in the end, the boys decided that it would be a lot more fun if the duel was for real."

He shrugs.

"Let us just say, I lost quite epically, and could not show myself before her for many a month."