Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-11-24
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The Cardinals
Edict
Il Was hu, Lamely Enforced
Till an Example Was Set
By f. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
aiatlou 1Qt1
By f. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

T~t~T~tFtftftt''t-t'-ts t~t-t't"t~t''t-t"t"t"t~t'
Cardinal Rlchelieu while prime min
lister was virtually king Of France.
During his administration dueling be-
came so common among the higher
classes, especially the officers of the
army. that 1t was evident II the prac-
tice were not checked these two classes
would become depleted. The cardinal
issued an order against such fighting,
buI II was not obeyed. In order to
show that he was in earnest In the
matter he made an example of the
Count de Bouteville, a member OF the
exalted house Of Montmorenci, who
had dlsobeyed the edict The count
was beheaded. This had a wholesome
erect. but not sufficient to eradicate
the evil.
There was at this time young lieu.
tenant In the army, Jean de Ia Tour.
married to won, lovely young wom-
an OF twenty-four. who had borne him
two children. Jean was poor swords
man. and his wife realized that II COM
PEELED to fight according to the code
she would probably lose him. She
urged him to practice, and when he
excused himself on the ground that he
had no one to fence with she offered
to be his opponent.
Jean was much pleased at the idea,
and hts wife at once procured q suita.
Bile costume. She was about the same
height and weight as her husband, and
1t was apparent from the first that she
would make very suitable adversary
for practice purposes. While De Ia
Tour was naturally sluggish In his
movements madame was remarkably
quick He started In as her instructor,
but 1t was not long before he was
wOrsted by his pupil
Bet won knew very well that she
was not capable of bringing him up
TO u standard that would make him
match for accomplished swordsmen.
Unknown to her husband, she took les
sons Of the most skillful fencing mas
ter in Paris, pledging him to keep the
matter secret. He had good rea-
son to observe his pledge, for his pupil
"SVh ONNbhV hObV PlOhNiChi III Ills hib
than himself
The inevitable was not long In com.
ing. Jean de Ia Tour one day, during
drill. stepped In puddle of water and
despatched comrades newly polish
ed boots. won was In her chamber,
engaged with her maternal duties,
when an officer called and asked for
no. h.. AL H.. AInA
Jean was not ut home, and the officer
left with her challenge for him from
Lieutenant Jacques de Fontayne to
mortal combat for having despatched
his boots. Madame promised to deliver
the message. and the officer withdrew
When De Ia Tour returned to his
quarters his wife asked him to drive
with her to their country place near
Paris to assist her In laying out some
changes she wished to make Jean
consented. and the two drove to q
house and grounds near St Cloud.
Jean was surprised to see several
servants there, including Francois,
whom his wife had brought with her
from her own family when she was
married won took her husband to a
room on the top story, with but one
window near the ceiling. and. whils
telling him OF the change she proposed
to make IN it, suddenly stepped into
the hall Jean heard the key turned
IN the door and his wife going down
the staircase He was a prisoner.
In u few minutes Francois came up
and told his master that Nine. de Ia
Tonr desired that her husband should
remain IN seclusiOn for few days.
ana she hoped he would not worry.
He would be- given whatever he wish
ed for. Do Ia Tour, at loss to know
the cause Of his imprisonment, was
thunderstruck.
Nine de Ia Tour, returning to Paris,
sent word IN the name Of her husband
that In view of the cardinals order |
he would only meet Lieutenant dc |
FOnfayDc on the promise OF all con
cerned not TO divulge the affair and |
would insist on lighting masked.
A reply came consenting to the |
terms and asking that De la Tour |
would name his seconds In order that |
tbc ttth might W uBiSVu upNh' al |
reply to this word was sent that De |
la Tour. fearing a second might be-
tray him to the prime minister, would |
trust no one with his interests He |
would appear at dawn the next morn
ing at the village of ", a few miles
from Paris, ready to fight De Ton-
tayne with rapiers. The reason given
for this unusual course was that De |
Ia Tour was more afraid OF losing his
life by the cardinals Ak than Do Ton-
tayne's sword. An assent to this was
received by Nine. dc 10 Tour, and the
preliminaries were closed.
The next morning won, dressed in
q suit OF clothes belonging to her
husband. was driven TO ", arriving |
on the ground Just as day was break
ing She found not only De Tontayne,
but two seconds attending him.
pardon, monsieur" said one OF
these men. but It is not usual for af-
fairs like this TO be fought out alone |
by the principals. Since you have no |
seconds. 10 case you disable Lieuten-
ant de Fontayne It Is expected that
you will fight with me. and IL you dis.
able me you will have to fight my
cOnfrere"
won. not daring TO speak lest her
voice betray her. simply nodded an as.
sent. She wore her husbands rainier