Morris tribune., 1882-08-31
MY FIRST DUEL.

Feel, Etc.
Translated for the N. o. Times Democrat.
THE following is translated from chap
ter of Paris JoyeuX, by NJ. Carl DIES PerriereS,
and i'll realistic power is perhaps the most
remarkable sketch of its kind ever produced.
1t has al the intensity of a personal expert
ence, and is related smoothly, gracefully
and observation-disclosures an accomplished man
of the world might recount his impressions
to some intimate friend.
Just about dawn my valet de chambre
raps gently with his fingers on my door.
He has two cards in his hand. With my
eyes still full of sleep l look at them and
distinguish the names of two members OF
our club.
The discussion of the evening before
with the Marquis de c. suddenly comes
to my mind and although secretly blam-
ing myself for that silly episode, l send
word to the gentlemen begging them to
excuse my inability to receive them for
the moment and making new appoint
ment with them for 5 o'clock in the after
noon.
As soon as they are gone, Joseph
dresses me in all haste, and hurry to
my friend George to explain my situa-
ton
''My dear fellow" he observes, "this
IS a first duel-that is my opinion. You
are very Young, and you are absolutely
in the wrong. If you wish to acknowl-
edge as much, well and good but if you
make mp Your mind to fight, that will be
great deal better, under the circum-
stances"
81 must write to De B., and get my
swords at the store
''No; there is no need Of that. Just
go to a fencing school. to get your hand
in and make your legs supple. Fence
for an hOur-not more, it would do YOU
no good. I'll go and see De B myself
As for the swords, YOU can have
mine here, which will bring you good
iuck."
l smile with a somewhat forced smile,
and shake hands with George, giving
him significant grip, one of those
energetic hand-clasps such as we only
have strength to give upon certain oc-
casions. l hurry to the fencing-school
and have quiet talk with my fencing
master, who Immediately puts on his old
plastron, considering the emergency of
the situation, and forthwith makes me
practise the counter of quartz for a
whole hour, parrying with half longes
at the arms. leave the fencing-school
highly pleased with myself, and fortified
with the blessing of my fencing master.
who offers to wager his head that shall
wound my adversary. l start for
Durand's, practising the counter ofQuarte
with my cane all the way, in style
Serried enough to do honor to Cordel0is
can think of nothing else except nv
duel. | had told everybody about it.
Had the Marquis de c., against whom
/ had no real grudge whatever. offered
me the fullest and rankest apologies,
would have energetically refused to ac-
.cept them.
At Durand's I meet Georre and De B.
We breakfast all three together; there
is a great deal of duel talk. Of course,
George has to tell me about his duels
in Algeria. The moral of his narration
us that it is very seldom that any one
is killed in a duel With swords. so long
as he can preserve his sang froid, and |
coolly talk about drinking the blood of
the marquis. George begins to laugh at
me. Task myself whether 1 shall not
also send witnesses to him. No, | think
that would be carrying things too far
Besides, he is really very fond of me- 1
find that | am becoming little too much
Of a swash-buckler.
Nv friends leave me to attend the
meeting Of the seconds. | return home.
/ find myself over-excited and nervous.
I jostle Joseph roughly; he does not
know what to make Of it. I order my
thUse saddled, and ride out to the Bots
de Boulogne. Everybody l know comes
to me to talk about the affair, which has
begun to be noised abroad. l assume
the most careless air | can put on, and
listen to them with secret pleasure l
bow to great many people. The Bots
is charming. A delightful sun-not too
hot. Autumn toilets; the prettiest ofall.
Two pretty dancers of the corps de bal
let stop their phaton to speak to me.
E'Tell me-" asks little v, ''is it true
that you are going to fight tomorrow
with Marquis de C.?''
eyes; but don't say anything about it;
at is private affair. Tomorrow morn
mg-swords."
"Ah. poor CASTOR! I trust you will
have good luck"
feel the caress of her jet-black eyes
as l sit upon my horse. l follow the lit
tie carriage at an easy canter. She looks
at me with a tender and sad look Then
try to show off before her, and find
that am quite delighted to have an af-
fair ofhonOr on my hands. | see George
on his Arab at distance. l check
my thoroughbred; George rides up to
me.
You fight tomorrow at 4 o'clock in
the afternoon at LIE Vesinet. have
made inquiries. Your adversary is not
very strong or skillful but he has fought
three times, and knows little fencing.
We shall visit the fencing-school togeth-
er to-morrow morning before breakfast"
Good" l answer, laconically-
His last remarks have cooled my ardor
considerably. l am not quite as we'll
satisfied as l was little while before.
Nevertheless l do not show it; and l
maintain show of gayety. I try to be
very witty. l make some very poor
.Jokes-counterfeit puns. George is Sc
rious and thoughtful. Nevertheless
see smile passing ove- his lips from
time to time. l think that he knows
Just how much my show of gayety is to
be relied upon.
We return. I dine with George and
II. l secure in advance front seat at
the Bouffes; and we are all to 90 to the
theatre together. Same conversation as
'1n the morning-but little more per-
sonal this time.
Your adversary is taller than you"
says George. I'm retreating you must
Keep your point in as much as possible,
and II you see an opening thrust without
fmaking the full longe."
Bah" l cried laughingly, "let us eat
our supper now and talk of something
else. Tomorrow we shall have daylight.
want to have some fun on my last
night"