The times., 1898-02-27
A FAMOUS DUELLIST.
Trom Chambers Journal.)

one of the most notorious OF French
duellists cf the period of the restora-
ton Of the Bourbons in 1915, when
scarcely day passed without a hostile
meeting WAS the Count de Larilliere.
a native OF Bordeaux. At thai time he
was a man Of about Stall, weli-made
and with polished manners His ap-
pearance. indeed. utterly belied the
Tecklessness Of his disposition.
one day. as he was walking with a
friend IN the principal street OF Bor-
deauN he saw approaching them one
Of the richest and most respected
merchants Of the town, with his newly
married wife on his arm. Larilliere ad-
Nanced toward them. hat in hand.
with all the outward semblance of a
well-bred man about 10 make a
speech OF more than ordinary polite
ness.
Il beg your pardon" said he. ad-
dressing himself To the merchant. who
With his wife. had halted abruptly,
but L have just made a bet with my
friend, whom 1 have the honor of pre-
senting 10 you"-here he introduced his
friend in due form-.that 1 will kiss
your wife on your arm'-the merchant.
knowing the counts character and rep
utation. here became deathly pale-"af-
ter having given YOU a box on the ear. y
Saying this, the miscreant stared inn
pudently in the face Of the amazed
merchant. and in spite of all the re-
SiStance he could offer. put both of the
threats into Immediate execution. "A
challenge and a meeting followed.
which resulted in the injured party re-
ceiYing his death wound. and the as-
victims.
In course of time Lalflliere had fought
upward Of forty duels. and was able TO
boast of having killed no fewer than
eleven individuals. He was now bent
upon making up his dozen, after which
he proposed to rest and continue his
practice with the new cavalry saber. to
which he had taken a strong fancy.
This laudable desire was not destined
TO be realized. however. for he was
himself killed in duel. under strange
circumstances. a few days after the
death of his eleventh and last victim.
On the evening of masked ball at
the Grand Thedter at Bordeaux, La
rilliere was seated in the adjoining
cafe. 1t was about II o'clock and the
count. not being in a very quarre' some
humor, Was occupied in peacefully inn
bibing glass Ct punch. Suddenly a
tail young man. wearing a black dom
inc and black Nelbet mask strode up To
the table at which the formidable count
was seated.
No particular notice was taken Of the
newcomer at first. but no sooner was
he observed t9 be in close vicinity to
Larilliere's table than ali eyes We're at
tracted toward him. Without a single
preliminary observation he seized hold
OF the counts glass, threw away the
puncn il contained. and ordered the
waiter in a loud voice 10 bring a small
bottle of orgcat in its place.
Witnesses Of the scene say that at this
moment for the first time in their lives
they saw that Larilliere had turned
pale IL Was the common belief in Ror-
deauN that during all the years this
man had been applying himself to the
work of destruction he had never once
allowed his countenance To betray the
slightest emotion.
''Scoundrel." he exclaimed. you do
not know who am, at the same time
making a vigorous but unsuccessful ef-
fort 10 remove the strangers mask.
1 know who you are perfectly Well"
the other replied coldly forcing LariI-
liere violently back into his seat
All present started TO their feet, and,
without Venturing to interfere. anx-
iously waited the issue of this strange
pToVOcation.
Walter exclaimed the stranger. be
quick with that bottle of orgeat,"
AT this second command the bottle
was brought, and the masked man.
drawing a pistol from his pocket. pro-
oeeded to address his adversary thus:
Unless in the presence Of this COM
pany. and for my own personal salts
faction. you at once swallow this glass
of orgeat. will blow your brains out
with less compunction than l would
those Of 4 dog. Should you. however.
comply with my bidding. ] Will do you
the honor of fighting you tomorrow
morning
With the sabre" demanded Laril-
liere, convuised with rage.
With what weapon you please" re-
piled the stranger disdainfully
Whereupon the count swallowed the
orgeat, everyone present preserving a
deathlike silence.
The masked man, satisfied with the
result. now retired. saying in a voice
loud enough 10 be heard by all in the
room.
To-day / have fumbled you sufficient
ly; tomorrow i intend to take your life.
My seconds viii wait upon YOU at s
o clock in the morning. We will fight
on the spot where you killed the young
CheNalier de C" This was the name
tL TIE tphHl = last AlGlln.
The following morning Larilliere
found himself in the presence of a man
no longer wearing a mask. who appear
ed to be some five-and-twenty years old
and of calm and dignified but Singu- !
larly resolute bearing. His seconds
were two private soldiers belonging to
one Of the regiments of the garrison
They brought weapons with them. but
La7illiere's seconds took exception to
hsar1 ai.t,
smile passed over the strangers face
The combat commenced. and at the /
first passes the count was convinced /,
that he had to deal with Skillful an /
tagcnfst However, his courage did not 1
fail him, though at times he seemed to |
lose somewhat of his customary COM 1
posure. -dnges and parTyings succeed |
ed each other with rapidity on both /
sides. Laiilliere had already tried his /
fatal finishing thrust more than |
once, but each time only TO find his ef- /
fort turned aside by his adversary's |
blade
Harassed at finding his efforts un
he insolently remarked to his 4
opponent:
Wen at what hour do you intend to
kill me-"
momentary silence ensued. Then
the stranger, who seemed TO have prof
tied by that slight interval to assure
himself that the advantage lay decided
ly with him, quietly remarked, I'm
Rushing forward. he thrust the point
Of his sword through his adversary.
who sprang backward. tottered and
sank into the arms of his nearest sec
Ond.
Putting his right hand on the wound.
the count was just able to say:
That sir is not a saber cut; it is a