Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-09-16
The Cardinal
Edict
Il Was but Lamely Enforced
Til an Example Was Set
BY F. A. Mitchell
BY F. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.

.s-i-s-s-i-i-sl-i-t-s-s-i-i
Cardinal Richelieu 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.
but 1t was not obeyed. In order to
show that he was In earnest in the
matter he made an example of the
Count de Bouteville. q member of the
exalted house of Montmorenci. who
| had disObeyed the edlct, The count
was beheaded. This had wholesome
erect, but not sufficient to eradicate
the evil.
There was at this time young lieu
tenant in the army. lean de la Tour.
married to won. a lovely young wom-
an of twenty-fOur who had borne him
two children. Jean was poor swords
man, and his wife realized that If 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 suita-
BILE costume. She was about the same
height and weight as her husband, and
it was apparent from the first that she
would make very suitable adversary
for practice purposes. While De la
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.
BSt won knew very well that she
was not capable of bringing him up
to 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
soon became more proficient In his art
than himself.
The inevitable was not long In COM
ing. Jean de la Tour one day, during
drill, stepped in a puddle of water and
despatched n comrades newly polish
ed boots. won was In her chamber,
engaged with her maternal duties.
when an officer called and asked for
her husband She told her caller that
Jean was not at home. and the officer
left with her a challenge for him from
Lieutenant Jacques de Fontayne to
! &c.. So H.. Ntr.pr
, 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 a
, house and grounds near st. Cloud
Jean was surprised to see several
a 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. while
telling him of the change she proposed
I 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 prisoner.
, In few minutes Francois came up
and told his master that Nine. de la
, Tour desired that her husband should
, remain In seclusiou for few days
and she hoped he would not worry
, He would be given whatever he wish
ed for. De Ia Tour. at a loss to know
: the cause of his imprisonment, was
thunderstruck.
Nine. de la Tour, returning to Paris
sent word in the name OF her husband
+, that In view of the cardinals order
: he would only meet Lieutenant do
: Tontayne on the promise of all con
. cerned not to divulge the affair ant
!, would insist on fighting masked.
A reply came consenting to the
!, terms and asking that De la Toul
would name his seconds in order thai
the terms might be agreed upon. Ii
l. reply to this word was sent that d.
la Tour, fearing second might be
l. tray him to the prime minister. woult
u trust no one with his interests. HI
d would appear at dawn the next morn
ing ut the village of ", few milel
from Paris. ready to fight De Fon
tayne with rnpiers. The reason givei
; for this unusual course was that d.
Ia Tour was more afraid of losing hi
life by the cardinals ak than De Fon
e tayne's swopd. An assent to this wa
Y received by Nine. de la Tour, and thu
preliminaries were closed.
Q The next morning won. dressed 4
suit OF clothes belonging to he
husband. was driven to ". arrivin
on the ground just as day was break
{ Ing. She found not only De Fontaynt
! but two seconds attending him.
! Pardon. monsieur" said one o
n these men. "but 1t is not usual for al
U fairs like this to be fought out alon
n by the principals. Since you have q
seconds. in case you disable Lieuter
e ant de Fontayne II is expected tina
you win fight with me. and IL you di.
3 able me you will have to fight m
e confrere."
s won. not daring to speak lest h.
% voice betray her, simply nodded an al
sent She wore her husbands rapie