The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-11-18

But there are those who say he is a
coward"
"That is enough" said the bully, start
ing to his feet. Monsieur will find me
in two hours at this address," film aging him
card.
"I shall not trouble myself to seek
Monsieur lie Comte," replied the straw
berry eater, calmly tearing the card in
two.
"Then I shall say of Monsieur what he,
permitting himself to lie, said just now of
me-"
And that is?"
That he is coward"
"You may say what you please, Mon
sicur lie Comte. Those who know me
would not believe you, and those who do
not-my faith what care 1 what they
think ?"
"And thou-thou art Frenchmanr'
No one bit Frenchman could have
thrown so much diSdain as he did into the
'tthou."
The strawberry eater made no reply, but
turned his head and called "GarcOni" The
poor trembling creature came up again,
wondering what new dilemma was pre-
pared for him, and stood quaking some ten
yards off.
"Garcon," said the stranger, is there
room vacant in the hOtel:"
Without doubt, Monsieur"
"A large One?"
"But certainly. They are all large
own apartments"
"Then engage the largest for me for to-
day, and anOther-no mattar what-for
Monsieur lie COmte"
Monsieur, l give my own orders when
necessary" said the Count, loftily.
II thought to spare you the trouble.
Go, if you please" (this to the waiter,)
" and prepare my rooms"
Then the strawberry eater returned to
his strawberries. The bully gnawed his
lip. He could not make head or tail of
this phlegmatic opponent. The circle
grew little wider, for a horrid idea got
abroad that the Count had not found one
who was likely to suit HIM, and that he
would have to seek elsewhere what he
wanted.
The murmur that went round reused
the bully.
Monsieur" he hissed, "has presumed
to make use of a word which among men
of honor"
=" beg your pardon?"
Which among men of honor"
But what can Monsieur lie Comte pos
sibly know what is felt among men of
honor?" asked the other, with a shrug of
incredulity.
"Will you fight yourself with me, or
will you not" roared the Count, goaded to
fury.
If Monsieur lie Comte will give himself
the trouble to accompany me to the apart
ment which. mo doubt, is now prepared for
rln oH hn cfr ric II
satisfy him."
Good" said the other, kicking down
his chair I" / am with you. | waive the
usual preliminaries. l only beg to observe
that am without arms; but if you"
go, don't trouble yourself on that
score," said the stranger, with a grim
smile. "If you are not afraid, follow
ne"
This he said in voice sufficiently loud
for the nearest to hear, and the circle
parted right and left, like startled sheep as
the two walked towards the house
Was there no one to call "police," no
one to try and prevent what to all seemed
imminent ? Not a soul The dreaded
duelist had his evil fit on, and every one
breathed freely now that he knew the
victim was selected. Moreover, no one
supposed it would end there.
The count and his friend (?) were ush-
cred into the apartment prepared for the
latter, who, as soon as the garcOn had left,
ook off his coat and waistcoat, and pre-
eeded to move the furniture so as to
cave the room free for what was to fol-
.cw-the count standing with folded arms,
glaring at him the while. The decks being
cleared for action, the stranger locked the
door, placed the key on the mantel-piece
behind him, and said:
II think you might have helped little :;
but never mind. Will you give me your
attention for five minutes 2"
Perfectly"
Thank you. / am, as have told you,
a Frenchman, but was educated in Eng
land, at one of her famous public schools.
Had been sent to one of our own Lycees,
l should, perhaps, have gained more book
knowledge, but, as it is, have learned some
things which we do not teach, and one of
them is, not to take a mean advantage of
any man, but to keep my own head with
my own hands. Do you understand me,
Monsieur lie Comtes"
"I cannot flatter myself that do"
"Ha! Then | must be more explicit.
l learned, then, that one who takes ad-
vantage of mere brute strength against
the weak, or who, practiced in any art,
compels one impractical in it to contend
with him, is coward and knave. Do
you follow me now, Monsieur lie Comte ~
q came here, Monsieur"
Never mind for what you came, be
content with what you will get For ex-
ample-to follow what / was observing
If man skilled with the small-swOrd, for
the mere vicious love of quarreling, goads
to madness boy who has never fenced in
his life, and kills him, that man is muir
derer and more-a cowardly murderer,
and a knavish."
II think |. catch your meaning; but
if you have pistols here" foamed the
bully.
"I do not come to eat strawberries with
pistols in my pocket" replied the other, in
the same calm tone he had used through
out. ALLOW me to continue. At that
school OF which 1 have spoken, and in the
society OF men who have grown out of it,
and others where the same habit OF
thought prevails, it would be considered
that man who had been guilty of such
cowardice and knavery as have men
toned, would be Justly punished if, some
day, he should be paid in his own coin by
meeting some one who would take him at
the same disadvantage as he placed that
poor boy at"
"Our seconds shall fix your own weap-
ons, Monsieur" said the Count "let this
farce end"
presently. Those gentlemen whose
opinions / now venture to express, not
having that craze for blood which dis
tinguIshes some-who have not had sim
liar enlightened education--would proba-
bly, think that such a coward and knaye
as we have been considering would best
meet his deserts by receiving a humilat-
ing castigation beftting his knavery and
his cowardice."
"Ahl / see; have lawyer to deal
WITH" meered the Count.
Yes / have studied little law, but
! regret to say am about to break one oi
| its provisions"
You will fight me them"