The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-10

ton was legible in his eyes Vassigny, on
the contrary, appeared exhausted and over
come, criminal awaiting sentence ofdeath
"tYou have seen Madame de Mar
same this morning. said the husband, with
strange solemniiy.
90 Madame de Marsanne -. In Hea-
ven's name, you are mistaken cried Mas
signy. But his tone of voice, and the
wild expression Of his features, fully con-
frmed the Counts words.
"You have seen Madame lie Marsanne
this morning. repeated the Count. 81
know, sir, that as a man Of honor, you are
incapable Of betraying lady's secret, but
prefer the evidence of my eyes even to
your world
"sWell, sir, my life is yours -take it,
cried Vassigny, casting towards heaven
glance of rage and despair. Marsanne ga
zed at the young man for brie. space and
then resumed.
"sListen 10 me, NJ. de Vassigny, The
law authorized me to assassinate you, but
that is not genlleman's revenge. The
law further authorized me to have my dis
honor certified by commissary OF police,
and to drag you before the tribunals Tor
six months imprison-
ment and few thousand francs damages!
Mockery!! My instinct Of honor rejected
such an alternative. An honorable man
revenges himself Of an outrage by meeting
his offender bare breasted, and with equal
weapons. You think as do, sir p
"Your seconds, your time, your aims "
cried Vassigny, all his courage revived by
this appeal TO the poiut Of honor.
"' Patience, sir--patience. The time
will come when we shall meet face to face;
but the hour of that mortal combat has not
yet tolled.'
"sI wait your orders from this day
forward am ready
60 expected no less, sir, from your
courage .a..-..L"..
ssThere was pause, and then Marsanne
resumed.
8" Whatever be the issue Of our duel,
he said, syou have poisoned my life, heap
ed misery and bitterness upon the rest OF
my days. believe you capable of appre-
ciating what am about to demand. Yes
terday, sir, when ! became aware of my
dshonour, my first thought was thought
of blood. Then examined my own con-
science cruel and painful examination,
for was compelled to own that if Madame
de Marsanne had betrayed me she was not
alone to blame. searched the innermost
recesses Of my heart, and ] felt that this
woman, abandoned, by her husband, had at
least the excuse Of unhappiness and neg
lect. thought Of my poor child, whose
mothers name should tarnsh, and my
thirst of vengeance yielded to these all
powerful considerations. Honour requires,
sir, that / should take your life, or you
mine: but it demands still more impera-
lively that the cause Of the duel should re-
main unknown
GA pretext is easily found: a quarrel
at the theatre or club will Suffice
"sWhat, sir = replied Marsanne, syou,
who know the world and its greedy curl
osity as we'll as ] do, can you think that it
will be satisfied with frivolous prctext,
and will not strive, by cruel investigation,
to penetrate our secret' No, sir to-day
duel would leave too large field FOR con-
lecture; our meeting must be prepared
long beforehand. In this night Of agony J
have calculated everything: the interests
Of my vengeance, the interests Of my no.
nour, the interests Of woman whom still
love-
To be cotiinued.) S#