Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-08-20
myself walked quickly to Paul's lodg-


already writing when entered his
room. "Of course" he said, as he saw
me and came towards me with both
hands outstretched, 'you, my dear
friend, will assist me- 1t is impossible
to do anything but fight. Even Alice
could not make me alter my conviction
upon that point, the insult was SO pub
lic"
Suppose you leave the country ?' 1
''Then l should have to give up the
appointment and Alice, too No, my
dear fellow, / am Frenchman and [
must fight; and you must arrange mat
ters for me. If he shoots me it cannot
be helped; if / shoot him [ have shot
the biggest scoundrel in Paris. / beg
you to call upon Laroquiere tonight. 1
have already discovered his address.
Here it is"
SBut must you really fight? 1t is
suicide to fight with professional duel
ist"
"Ah," he said, shaking his head. ''I
am afraid it is suicide; but / must fight,
so please don't try and persuade me
that [ need not. And [ Will fight, too,
as soon as possible. You can arrange
everything for tomorrow morning. /
must have the matter over. In day or
two [ might be a coward"
By his looks he implored me to 90 to
Laroquiere, and constituted as French
society was at that time | had no other
course open to me than to do as he
wished.
eff Monsieur comes from M. Paul
Ferrand, +" said a man-servant, when /
inquired whether could see his master,
an. Laroquiere has sent to say that he
has not yet left the opera. He has,
however, sent this penciled note, which
am to give to the gentleman who
comes from NJ. Ferrand."
/ tore open the nissive. 1t contained
two cards, one bearing the name of the
duelist, and the second that of M. Fer
nand Dalarie, Rue Vivienne, 49, Ger
tainly it was an off-hand way of ac-
quainting me with the name and where
abouts of Laroquiere's second, but as |
wished to make no quarrel | walked on
to the Rue Vivienne, and in few min
utes was ushered into the presence of
III. Dalarie himself.
about %, and dressed in the very ex-
IRENE of fashion. His ruffles were i'm
maculate and most symmetrically ar
ranged; his lace handkerchief was
stepped in essence; his gloves, which
lay on the table-for he had only lust
returned. at Laroquiere's request, from
the opera-were small and delicate; his
fingers were covered with valuable
rings, and the bunch of gold seals de-
pending from his fob was unusually
heavy and brilliant.
He did not strike me as being partic-
ularly warlike, but, nevertheless, after
formally saluting me, he at once touched
upon the object of my visit, and before
| had been ten minutes in his company
had arranged to meet Ferrand and my
self at a certain spot dear to duelists of
the time at an early hour next morning,
and to bring LaroQuiere.
81 don't think we shall need sur
parting, "but if you please YOU can
bring one. In his last affair nv princi-
pal shot his man through the temples,
and he died Immediately. [ sincerely
hope, Monsieur, that your friend is as
clever"
"Confound the fellow" / said to my
self as | left the house and sought the
residence of my own medical man. 81
am afraid poor Ferrand is not such a
cOnsummate murderer as Laroquiere. J"
After seeing the surgeon, to whom
briefly explained matters, Icalled upon
Mrs. Rae. She was doing her best to
comfort her daughter, who was in the
greatest possible distress. care they
going to fight?'' she asked me-
s'My dear Alice" l said, ''they are. I
have done my best to dissuade Paul,
but he says, and 1 am obliged to agree,
that he must fight. Let us hope for the
best. He has sure eye and steady
hand, and he has right on his side The
other man Is a scoundrel. And you
must remember that poor Paul is not
an Englishman. If / were he / would
not fight, but, as it is, the matter can
not be overlooked, and indeed every
thing is arranged"
"You are to be with him ?" said Mrs
Rae, looking as white as sheet.
eyes they are to meet tomorrow
morning, and by breakfast time Alice's
suspense will be over. She must bear
up"
the half heart-broken girl. Cannot
Paul let the insult pass? But no it was
so public"
"You can only hope" said. sI will
see you in the morning, but now [ must
go back to him and see that he gets
some Sleep"
"Tell him." cried Alice, "that if he is
killed shall die. Come here directly
IL is over. Come, even he falls you
must tell me about it. I must hear
everything" She buried her face in
her hands; and I escaping from the I'M
happy girl, hurried to Paul.
He was still writing and his hair was
in disorder and his face pale when he
turned towards me. 81 am no coward, !"
be said, "but I am saying good-by to
her, for [ die tomorrow"
'.My dear fellow; I exclaimed, "you
will shoot Laroquiere, and be married
next month. You must finish your
writing at once and go to bed. | will
sleep here tonight, for | must see that
you turn out in time tomorrow morn
ing; SO be as quick as possible"
He wrote for another half hour; adj
dressed the document to Alice Rae,
placed lock of his hair within it, and
after sealing it up gave it to me-
Give that to her. he said, eff Laro-
quiere kills me outright and | know he
will. Ii it were not for Alice l declare
that I should be quite glad to meet him.
Now for bed"
He undressed, whilst [ lay down on
the sofa in the next room and lit cigar,