Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-11-14
DUELNE N FRANCE.

0o64SNa IN S&sSA&NSGs
Mr.. Carlyle, in summing the char
acteristics of the French nobility at the
beginning of the revolution Of 1889,
gives them credit for having possessed
one merit, such as it was, "a readiness to
fight duels" The following is an ac-
count of duel whereby a coxcomb was
brought to grief:
One of the most celebrated of these
duelists, the Count de Larillere, was a
native of Bordeaux. He was at the
time Of my story man between thirty
five and forty years of age, tall, well
made, and with polished manners; in
short, his appearance belied the good
for-nothing. kind of life he was leading.
One day while he was walking with a
friend or rather ali accomplice; ii the
frequented street of Bordeaux, he saw
approaching them on the same side Of
the WY, one Of the richest and most
honorable merchants of the town, with
his newly married wife upon his arm.
When the young couple were within
hearing Larilliere advanced comteously
toward them, hat in hand, and with a
smile upon his lips; aud with all the
outward semblance of we'll bred man,
who is about to deliver himself of a
speech of more than ordinary politeness,
Il beg your pardon" said he addressing
himself to the merchant, who with his
wife had abruptly halted, s"but l have
Just made bet with my friend, whom
l have the honor Of presenting to you,
here he mentioned his friends, name
and quality in due form-'that I will
kiss your wife on your arm'--the hus-
band knowing the character of the
Count, here became CHASTITY pale after
having, first of all given you a s.1sck
on the ear. Saying this, the miscreant
stared impudently in the face Of the
amazed merchant, who was still more
amazed to find, spite of all the resistance
he could offer, both threats put into i'm
mediate execution. A challenge and a
meeting followed as matter of course,
which resulted in the injured party re-
ceiving his death wound, and the ag-
gressor going forth in search of new
victims.
After proceeding some time in this
course, Lailliere was enabled to boast of
having killed no less than eleven indi-
viduals of those whom he merely woufi-
ded, he took no kind of account He
had fought altogether upward of forty
duels, and was bent upon making up
his dozen, after which he proposed to
rest for time, and to continue his
practice with a new cavalry sabre; to
which, as beinga far more deadly weap-
on than the small sword, he had taken
strange family. This laudable desire
of his was not destined to be realized,
for he was killed in duel, under rath-
er strange circumstances, few days af,
ter the death of his eleventh and last
victim.
On the evening of a masked ball at
the Grand Theatre at Bordeaux, Laril-
liere was seated in an adjoining cafe,
which he was in the habit of frequent
ing with members ofhis own particular
set. It was IL o'clock, and the duelist,
who had Abeen for the moment, abandon
ed by his ordinary companions, feeling
in no particularly quarrelsome humor,
was occupied in peacefully imbibing a
glass Of punch. Suddenly tall young
man wearing black domino, and with
his face concealed behind a,blaek velvet
mask, entered the cafe, and strobe Up
to the table at which Larilliere was
seated.
None of the ordinary habitues of the
cafe took any particular notice of the
new conner on his entrance, as the mask
ed ball, which was to take place that
night sufficiently explained his costumes
but no sooner was the mysterious visi-
tor observed in the vicinity Of Larilliere's
table than all were turned toward him.
Without single preliminary, of, obser-
walton, he seized hold of Iarilliere's
glass threw away the punch it contained
and ordered the waiter, in loud voice
to Bring small bottle of orgeate in
place of it:
Witnesses Of the scene say that, at
this moment, for the first time in their
lives, they observed I.arilliere turn pale.
It was common belief in Bordeaux that,
during the fifteen years this man had
been applying himself to; the task of
destruction; he had never once allowed
his countenance to bettay the slightest
emotion.
s'Scoundrel!' he exclaimed to his
masked adversary, you don't know
who ! ami" making at the same mo-
ment, vigorous, but unsuccessful eff
fort to remove the mask from the stran-
gers face.
q know who you are perfectly well"
coldly replied the unknown, forcing
Lariiliere violently back with one hand.
All present started to their feet, and
though no one among them ventured
to approach the disputants, they con-
templated none the less anxiously the
issue Of this strange provocation.
''Waiter!" exclaimed the unknown,
'sbe quick with that bottle of orgeat."
At this second command the bottle
was brought, whereupon the masked
MN, still sta ding Immediately in from:
Of Larilher, who was foaming at the
mouth with rage, proceeded to draw
pistol from his right hand pocket. Then
addressing his adversary, he said:
Fin the presence of this company, and
for my own personal satisfaction, you