NOVELIST FIRED AT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

NOVELIST FIRED AT.

LADY'S DRAMATIC VENGEANCE ON FORMER LOVER, BROTHER WOUNDED IN A DUEL. Paris has something to talk about just now which beats, pretty easily the most daring love stories of its novelists. M. Marcel Prevost was fired at by a young lady, Mdlle. Emma Touret, whose love he had first won and then, it is alleged, slighted. Happily the novelist escaped without injury, and treated the affair with the utmost nonchalance. The shooting took place at the entrance to the offices of the Literary Society, as M. Prevost was entering the building prior to his election as president of that association. The young lady was at once arrested, while the novelist made a speech to his fellow-writers as if nothing had happened. The affair is aptly described as a " roman veeu," a story which has adamantine fact for its foundation.

The novelist and the young, lady first met about ten years ago. Some flirtation began, and then matters assumed a more serious complexion. The young lady, was dazzled by the rising literary fame of M. Prevost, who was a friend of her family. As Desdemona was dazzled by the magnificent deeds of arms of the Moor, so Mdlle. Touret became fascinated and entranced by the celebrity of the young novelist, whoso productions were so favourably reviewed in the leading newspapers, who was spoken of in salons, and periodically referred to by his admirers as one of the literary glories of modern Fiance, and as a future Academician. It is said that in the beginning the novelist deeply appreciated the young lady's affection for himself, and that he promised never to marry anybody else. Two years ago Mdlle. Touret observed a change in his attitude. He who was all smiles, attention, and affection suddenly became cold, careless, and disdainful. Then he avoided her company, left nis rooms in the Rue Vineuse, near the Trocadero, and lived in hotels. This was to get away from Mdlle. Touret, who was looking for him everywhere. She read one day that the novelist had married a young lady whom lie had known in the provinces, when, after having left the Polytechnic School, where he was trained as an engineer, he was appointed to a post in one of the State tobacco manufactories.

A few months since Mdlle. Touret met her former lover, by the merest accident, near the Opera, and asked him to return to her, but he refused. She threatened him with reprisals, mentioning her brother, but M. Prevost said that the young man in question would be foolish to challenge.him. In a statement to the police superintendent, who searched her residence and seized eleven letters from M. Prevost, Mdlle. Touret said that during her liaison with the novelist he had hired rooms for her in the Rue Copernic, and subsequently in the Rue d'Armaille. When she heard that he was tied, and that there was another woman in his life, she went for a time to London. After a rather long stay in England she came back to Paris, and again met M. Prevost, who made apparently sincere demonstrations or affection. Notwithstanding these demonstrations, the novelist finally broke with her, and she resolved not to kill him, but to cause a scandal by firing at him.

The young lady's mother, Madame Touret, states that at her house in the Rue Gustave Dore M. Marcel Prevost was always a welcome guest. He even came to be regarded as one of the family ; but he betrayed his trust by stealing away the affections of her daughter, who was an angel of purity, and was known among friends as the Vestal Virgin. Madame Touret was for seven years in ignorance of the relations between her daughter and the novelist. The real state of affairs was disclosed two years ago, when her daughter told her that she was deeply in love with M. Prevost, that he had reciprocated her affection, but had after years of love informed hei that there was another woman in his life. The revelation came as a thunderbolt to the unhappy mother. It is said that when Mdlle. Touret expostulated with the novelist for taking advantage of her innocence he told her many women were in the same plight, and that did not prevent them from marrying men who ignored their pasts. The young lady, according to one of her friends, was so horrified at this callousness that she resolved to commit suicide. For her mother's sake, however, she determined to live. She went to London for change of scene, but returned to Paris to find she would have to abandon all hope, as M. Prevost had married another woman.

As a sequel came a duel in which the novelist came off best. M. Marcel Prevost, was challenged by M. Tony Touret, elder brother of the young ladv who so dramatically avenged herself. The duel took place near the Bois de Boulogne. The novelist's seconds were his literary colleague, M. Paul Hervieu, of the French Academy, and M. Ganderax. His adversary was accompanied to the place of meeting by Baron Schwartz and M. Loisant. About half-past eleven o'clock everything was ready, and the men faced each other resolutely*. M. Marcel Prevost showed his usual skill as a fencer, and it was evident from the outset that his opponent was at a disadvantage. M. Touret exhibited a good deal of courage ,in the unequal contest, from which he emerged with a deep puncture in the right forearm. The duel then ended, and the combatants, with their seconds and surgeons, went away.

Mdlle. Touret, it may be mentioned, is a descendant of the politician Touret, who was President of the Constituant or National Assembly, of June, 1789. He died on the scaffold in 1794.

M. Prevost has declined to prosecute the lady, and. in consequence, it was thought there would be no trial. But it is announced that, contrary to what was already stated, a prosecution would take place. An examining magistrate has been appointed to investigate the case, but so far the lady has not been arrested, and it is expected that she will remain free until the trial takes place.