The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
SYLVAN LAMBKINs EscAPADE
How he Maintained the Honor OF hts Country
Against Frenchmnn.

morning whpn on awaking In his room at the
Hotel du Louvre. he found on his night table n
Cant lie Tartarin. Third Cuirassiers. and
Lieut. de flamhcrgc- AuveLt. Filth Horse
Chusscurs. will wait upon Monsieur lamb
kin at O'Clock Tomorrow "wednesday"
1t is To- be feared that Monsieur Lam9kin had
drunk too much punch over night. for he could
not recolect ut all under what circumstances he
had made the acquaintance OF NM. de Tartarin
these warriors intended TO call upon him at so
early an hour In the morning. He sat up In his
bed rubbing his eyes. and trying to collect his
"reminiscences OF what had happened since that
hour on the previous nigh, when he had sailed
a masked ball at the opera lie remem6ered
having put on cardboard nose; having
danced; having stood treats OF bottles OF cham
one. then to a blue one. After that, IL seemed
to him that he had gone off with the blue
domino to sup ut the Cafe Anglals, but then he
could remember no more, He glanced round
the room. and saw his clothes so neatly folded
them there himself Somebody must have un.
dressed him; and that somebody had removed
Sylvan Lambkin looked Mt the clock on the
mantleshelf. and perceived that IL was about to
a knock at his door. and two splendid looking
gentlemen OF military bearing walked, into the
other lighter of complexion and build. but
equally erect and strong; both had waved tips
20 their moustaches. and they could have been
recognized Tor cavalry officers anywhere,
though they wore civilian clothes.
nrst joviaily. Not up yeti IA we'll We
have half an hour I? spare. so you have time to
"Vous 6ies tray bong" said Lamhkin, shak-
ing the two hands that were proiTered him.
Then 1t occurred To him that he must have. n;
vitcd this pair Of strangers to breakfast. III
b. ready In ten minutes said he. and III
ring up the waiter. Pray excuse mo Tor having
fast-frcd fish. gamer
on, we shant have time to breakfast" an
swered the dark and stout officer We'll 10
that by and by; besides, copious eating molli.
nes the nerves; Wen just go down stairs and
order some black coffee. and you shall take a
Starting Tor where 2" echoed Lambkin. He
had vague idea that no had asked somebody
to take him, to see the Catacombs. and he won
dcred whether this might be the object OF the
projected expedition. Excusay moa, Mes.
sieurs. but | have entirely forgotten all that
khar' said the stout officer with q laugh. in
Snppeh SS to ali Si Of u.s. but we must nrodGce
ourselves then am Capt. do Tartarin. and this
is my friend. Lieut.. de Flamberge-Auvent We
have the honor TO be your two seconds"
My seconds ?" echoed Lambkin. staring.
' Ycsl W. came forward to Take your pnrt last
night. when you were insuted 10y that whipper-
snapper into whose face you threw tho plate OF
" vous etes tray bong" repeated Lambkin.
rubbing his head. But why did l throw the
lobster salad into his face p
- He accused you OF having insulted lady
related to him. Then he abused your country
and III M az round and SnyaS S Suz %se
This was more than you could stand. and we
sympathized with you, for II we were in Eng
should act as you did, SO we stood by, you;''
IS Je VOC remercy bcccoo." ialtered Lamhkin.
in rs good French as he could command. It's
very good OF you. I'm sure but now-now.
what is to be the result OF all this 2,
You meet your antagonist on the old race
course OF Vincennes punctually at half past
nine with pistols answered TAr:arn COM
and TO iire a couple OF shots. AT twenty PAGES.
AS soon rs You had accepted our services we
Seconds on the other side and i iva was decided
that such insults rs had been exchanged could
not be wiped out by u mere mock duel. The
other side wanted u duel TO the DEATH"
All, quite So" muttered Lambkin; and
may know my aniagonist-my boodthirsty
The officers laughed thinking he intended to
Joke but he was MS serious as 9 sexton az a
had somehow got into his keeping temporarily
and that he had n bad headache-neither Of
Flambergo Informed him that his opponent
was NJ. de CraquetotIa young 02nme,n. q
stesdied by getting an ounce Of lead into IT,
This said. they requested Lambkn TO make
haste and dress. and they left him repeating
that they would wait for him in the coffee room
below When they had gone lambkin turned
out of bed and gazed at his socks in consterna-
ton Here was a usually well behaved young
man, who hnd been piQusly brought up by
maiden aunt at Bath. whose heir he was and
this excellent relative warned him when he
started for Paris OF the many pitfalls that would
beset him there. She had strongly objected TO
his visiting what she called the Capital OF Sin.
but he had disregarded her advice. saying he
wished 10 periect himselfin the use OF the French
tongue. and hero WAS the result Only the
day before Sylvan Lambkin had cogitated rs TO
what euphemious perlpurases ne should use Ia
intimats TO his aunt that he had suffered some
pecuniary losses. and wanted remittances but
what would his aunt say II II reached her that
had been the aggressor. Perhaps he should be
wounded, or killed; perhaps he would xiii the
his aunt say them For the moment the honor
OF his country weighed very heavily on poor
Lambkins shoulders.
It would be absurd to say that he did not con.
slider whether there would be any means OF
backing out OF the duel. He wondered whether,
IL NJ. de Craquetot withdrew the expressions on
England he (Lambkinl could tmetaphorical.yl
withdraw the plate Of lobster salad but he saw
this would not DO. And that mpalpaDle. some
times drrided thing. national honor. has such
q hold on honest minds that this OXonian. who
would brave NJ de Craauetot's bullets dozen
times over sooner than blench once IN the pres
nSe OF two French gentlemen wh0 an ma s
down stairs TO the dining room. where his
two seconds were waiting. They were capital
fellows. who forced MIN to swallow n cup of
strong coffee. and then, on the principle OF Civ
ing II hair Of the dog that had bitten him over;
three then sailed out together to n brougham
which the officers had hired. On the front seat
lay fiat box. with "a brass binding, and which
evidently contained the implements Of the fray.
The sight Of Il made Lambkin's flesh Green.
We have sent Il note to my regimental sur
geon," whispered De Tartarin, pattlng him on
the shoulder; " He = guartered ut Nincennes'
quite So" reIoined Lambkin, not much
cheered by this gay COMMUNICATION and he
Jumped IN. during the WnOH OF inc uilNt Ulul
ensued he kept asking himself how. when. and
where he could possibly have iusulted NJ. de
Craquetots fair relative. He supposed 1t must
have been at the opera ball but, being little
used to insult ladies' he cursed the eitervesci ne
beverage which had apparently dragged him
down from the heights Of his noble nature.
The site chosen for the deadly encounter with
firearms was a most favorable ono for such
work. Behind the grand stand OF the race
course lies a patch OF turf, sheltered on the one
side by clumD of'trees on the other by the on
closure OF what was once the weighing ring. A
couple OF gentlemen might exchange shots FOR
an hour In that sweet spot and all creation re-
main ignorant of il. Add to this that It was n
lovely morning fresh and clear-just the
weather for turning out OF bed early and taking
nice country drive.
Lambkin aud his friends were the first "a
arrive on the ground. and there met n polite
gentleman in spectacles who proved TO be the
military surgeon On being introduced 10
Lambkin he felt his pulse and nodded without
making any remark. A few minutes later eAt
hove in view. and there presently decended
from 1t a young gentleman with an eye-gass
and a cigar. and two other well dressed French
men. likewise smoking. LAmbkin's seconds
forthwith raised their hats and the Englishman
Il.-t .teuf. IA rifag