The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-06-30
SOME OLD WORLD DUELS.
SENSATIONAL coMB4TS ON THE
FIELD OF ssHoNoR.v
D--ss@ate Encounter Between vnIOi.
and Bezarisr in the Time of Henri
auatre-One Kills Four.

BDEDEeaIc Encounter Between VnIofs
and Bezarier in the Time of Henri
auatre-One Kills Four.
One Of the most memorable, as well
as one of the most desperate. duels in
the annals of France. took place in
Paris. during the reign of Henry ".
between Lagarde Ga gambler, roue and
swashbuckler) and Constant Bezarier
The former had stabbed a lad named
Chretien, whom he had attempted to
rob, at a restaurant, and during the
melee Bezarier, friend of the young
nobleman, preeipitated himself into the
room just as Yalois was making his
exit. Dispatching a domestic for sur
geon, Bezarier took off Chretien's hat,
with its rich ostrich plume. and at
taching a slip of paper to it, with the
words. "Thou thrice-accused coward,
Valois, meet me, Bezarier, and wear
this hat. il thou darest,' he sent it by
his own servant to Valois' lodgings
and then looked carefully to his sword
and dagggers and left for the Three
Brothers, the residence of his friend,
Chretien. He had only proceeded,
however, as far as the Church of the
Sacred Heart, when he saw approach
ing him Valois himself, with the identi-
cal hat on his head. 1t was lonely
road, and there was ample room there
for two desperate men bent on fighting
a duel to the death. In an instant
their swords We're drawn and they
sternly saluted each other. The next
and the blades were crossed.
For some minutes each man tented
and lunged in turn, and did his utmost
to discover the strength of his adverse
RVS resources. Then there was a quick
pass or two, then an Involuntary pause.
I'VE meet sooner than I expected"
light of the battle. It knew the Sieur
Benzarier would keep his promise to
meet me. but I did not expect to see
him again before sunset" you are
liar and a curr," Bezarier sternly, and
may think yourself fortunate that /
condescend to cross swords with you.
Shake not your head in that way may;
1 know you! Him you did breakfast
with, and ply with wine, and afterwards
rob, he was my friend and / am about
to be his avenger. Therefore. make
your peace with heaven, for short is the
shrift / shall allow you" "Fool!'' re-
torted Valois, white with rage, ''who
are you. that, on the repute of a few
chance encounters with obscure men,
would face the best swordman in Paris?
hurl your defiance back in your teeth.
Have at you, now.n With that he
raised his sword, and with quick and
nimble rush broke over Bezarier's
guard and wounded him in the forehead
How like you that?'' he demanded.
Bezarier made no answer but quietly
wiping the blood from his face smiled
disdainfully and advanced to the at
tack. Again the swords crossed.
In mere skill and dexterity the COM
batants were pretty evenly balanced,
but vaIois was the more active and by
far the stronger of the two. Twice had
the point of his sword swept like light
ming within an inch of Bezarier's heart,
and only by the merest good fortune
did the latter escape untouched. But
his GOODNESS and resolution, his patience
and pertinacity, never left him. Even
these tokens Of his adversary's superb
GRITTY failed to provoke him to be indis-
Greet. He parted Valois impetuous
outsets, with calm courage that left
nothing to be desored. For the third
time they colsed. Though Bezarier was
bleeding freely from the wound he had
received, he bated no jot of his vigil
lance-eye, foot and hand were equally
firm and true. Evidently 1t was his
design to tire out Valois before he at
tempted any serious effort on his own
account. OF this Valois soon became
aware, and his curses were frequent
and deep. Once more he made savage
rush, and though Bezarier parted it,
the exertion seemed to tire him. and he
hung longer on the others blade than
was altogether safe. Valois noticed 1t.