The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-03
A French Duei.

From the last Paris letter in the New York TIL
bune.l
T once had a bat adventure myself 1t was
in 1850. vas at the ball Of the Hotel de
While, eseortipg Nine. Victor Hugo, while
M, Hugo gave his arm to Madame aoussaye.
There was chair empty, and the one next
to it contained bat. took up the hat and
gave the chair to Nine. Hugo. Of course
did not propose to hold the hat all night, SO
nut It on the loor. It's owner soon arrived.
It was a celebrated duellist, N. Sherbette, a
Deputy from scissors. He-came straight to
the chair which had bad the honor OF hold
ing his bat. he was about to attack 81 me.
Victor Hugo, but as was talking with her,
he turned upon me.
els it YOU, sir, who have displaced my
hat?, "Yes, sir" "Did you put it on the
floor" eyes. Do you think ought to
have nut it on my headY' but, sir, you
have insuted me. Here is my card"
I took out card and threw it IN bis bat.
"Monsieur p said the Deputy, furiously,
"do you suppose am going to pick up my
"Do you suppose" I said. "that I am
going to put it on your head p
Victor Hugo laughed, Madame Hugo
smiled, but Madame Houssaye was not at all
amused.
"Iuquire, sir" said the Deputy Of Sois-
sons, "that you replace my hat on the chair
where it was" l began 10 laugh. A little
circle had gathered. NJ. Sherbette fioally
picked up his hat under pretext of taking
my card.
"Monsieur Arieue Houssaye," he said.
eve are from the same place, reason more
for our meeting"
81 await your seconds, n. sherbette," 1
replied.
Cat what hour?" AT this hour. We
can fight Us soon as we leave the ball."
NJ. Sberbette bowed to the two ladies, and
went off in search of two seconds. asked
Victor Hugo and the Marquis de Belloy to
act as my witnesses in this ridiculous affair.
NJ. Sherbette's seconds soon appeared. 1t
was decided that We should fight with pis.
tolls at twenty PAGES, at the Bots de Boulogne.
at daybreak. 1t was then midnight, but we
resolved to pass the rest of the night at the
ball. At that time was very fond OF. WALTZ.
ing. They told Madame Houssaye that the
affair was amicably settled, so that we
amused ourselves pleasantly until nearly
dawn.
AS ill.luck would have it, we all met in
the cloak room, principals and seconds. Ii
IS d nuiSaECes sal'l ouC VI SueA oe''e
seconds, "to 60 to the Bots in this snow
Storm" "Come," said the other laughlngly
to NJ. ,Sberbette, .'as you are the injured
party, you can apologize" Never" said
NJ. Sherbette. f,s.a. ~
The two seconds came to me. essay one
word 10 free us from this task. We want to
60 to bed" "Never!" / cried in my turn.
M. Sherbette put on his hat with slant over
the right ear. Iput Oh mine with slant over
the LETT. The four seconds besieged US, and
said they would not accompany Us unless we
were more good.natuTed about it.
aAfter ALL" said Victor Hugo, "I think
that Ar. enc Houssaye. having insulted only
III. Sherbette's hat, might make his apologies
to it.'. a-,a:sh n...a.
At this moment word from NJ. Sherbette
changed the face of things. "Lf ID. Ar enc
Houssaye declares that 10 offending my hat
be did not mean to offend me will hold my.
self satisfied with this declaration" $3.50.
i declared that had not aimed at M
Sherbeite under his bet, and The duel was al
40 end. 1t was agreed In the verbal protes.
verbal, that whenever we met thereafter we
wereto salute each other by touch of the
hat. ~. .'.E s ARsBNE HoUssAYE.~