A LA MORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 42

A LA MORT.

Sixty or more years ago tljere flourished in France a class of bullies the most detestable one could conceive — men who had perfected tbemselveß in the use of arms, who gleefully boasted of the number of people they had done to death, and took rank accordingly, as a Bed Indian brave takes rank bj the number of scalps in his girdle. One of these bravos, who styled himself Jules de la Magny, took up his residence in Lyons. Magnj waß a man*of about 40, tall, rather slim, and of a military bearing. His very features, it was eaid, wsre intimidatory, his paleface, without a speck of colour, being crowned by coal-black hair. His eyes were blacker still, and gave him a sinister aspect, which was increased when he assumed his cold smile. This scoundrel, who dresßed elegantly, who dined on the best — he preyed on a rich widow, who adored him — and affected the most elegant and aristocratic manners, boasted that he meant to kill eight men before the year closed. "I have a method," he said — " the method of progression. Last year it was seven, this year eight. Behold, it is September, and I have only accounted for five, so thi» city rdust supply me with three." Incredible as it may seem, the picture is not overdrawn ; those fiendish butchers, with their sensitive " honour," were as regardless of life as an Eistern despot. Mon6ieur de Magny opened his campaign at Lyons with a duel that pleased the citizens. There was already a minor bully in the town, who called himself Captain Ferreuse, and who had terrorised the law-abiding for some time. It was only a week after D * Magoy'fl advent in the town that he insulted Captain Ferreuse in the Palais Cafe, the swell cafe of the city, one evening. He sat down at the same table as the captain, called for a glags of wine, and when it was brought to him swept ihe c aptain's glass off the table with hia cane, saying to the waiter, " Bequest this fellow to find another table, garcon. I like not the society of canaille " (the scum). The captain replied by taking up De Magny's glass and throwing its contents in his face. Monsieur only smiled bis cold smile, and wiped his face delicately with his perfumed handkerchief. The meeting took place an hour or two later, and after a few passes the captain fell with a gaping wound in his throat. Dscent people congratulated themselves, but soon they found that they had only exchanged King Log for King Stork, and no man was sate. Of course, De Magny had his friends — there WBre always to be found a doz?n or two who looked up to him as their leader and cbiet, and took pride from being recognised as a friend of so redoubtable a man. j Ernest; cJoleau was a young doctor in the city — a most able yourg man, who was steadily makirg a name for himself. He was respected by his eqiuli and almost loved by the poor, from whom he wonld take no fee. Shortly after De Magny'a advent in the city he was married, after a year's engagement, to a beautiful and charming girl, the daughter of a deceased colonel. They were passionately devoted to each other, and it was a pure love match. They sp9nt their honeymoon in Italy, where they stayed six weeks, it being the first holiday the doctor had given himself in three years. "» On a Sunday afternoon a week after their return they were enjoying the sunshine in the public park. They were seated, talking and ! laughing merrily, when by evil fortune Monsienr de Magny came by. Now it happened that the day after his return ~Dc Soleau had been called in to attend the seventh victim of De Magny, a barrister, who had been wantonly insulted and then killed. The doctor, as the bravo passed, could not help showing his loathing. Tne cold smile that meant death came on the faca of the bully. He walked on a few yard?, then turned back, and ignoring the husband he stopped before Madame Soleau, and with well-simulated politeness said : | " Good afternoon, madame ; with your permission I will seat myself beside you and we will chat together. I love to talk to the beautifnl," with another bow. Estelle, who had never heard of the bravo, turned inquiring eyes on her husband, thinking ihe man was either drunk or a madman. Soleau's face became fright- ' fully pale, and he controlled himself with the i greatest diaiculty, understanding well that De Magny was seeking to insult him. 41 Monsieur," he said, "you are speaking to my wife and you are offensive. Pray leave v?." Da Magny affected neither to notice nor hear him. '-Will madame give me permission to sit beside her, or will she take my arm for a stroll? I find madame charming, and I adore charming women," and he made her another sweeping bow. 41 Go away !go away 1 " said Estelle, now thoroughly alarmed. " Monsieur, you are grossly offensive, I tell you," said Soleau, trembling with restrained passion. " Your behaviour is that of a cid.'' "Ah," said De Magny, still affecting to ignore the husband, " madame is fatigued, and does not care to talk. I will leave madame, and will call upon her this evening. Bat permit me to anticipate this evening," I and before husband or wife could guess what was coming, he had kissed her. ' With a spring like a tiger's Soleau was on . him, beating him wildly about the face with { his fiats. Esttlle screamed in terror, and several people who had witnessed the alter-

cation at a little distance came up. Da Magny, with a contused face, but with his demon's smile, had disengaged himself, and was asking for satisfaction. " Satisfaction ! Yes," cried' the young doctor, " satisfaction and your deserts.!' The meeting took placa early the next morning. There could only be one result — considering disparity in skill, it was a duel between wolf and lamb. With the glee of a fiend, De Magny played with his victim, giving him a wound for every blow, as he said, finishing with a thrust in the left side. Ten minutes later Estelle was a widow. . It was not until her husband was brought home to her dead that she learnt tbat he bad gone out to inevitable death, that De Magny had purposely insnlted her, and that it was, in fact, deliberate murder, sanctioned by the false code of so-called "honour," under whioh the vilest and most bloodthirsty wretches could commit the most inhuman murders with impunity. It was the most heartrending tragedy those present, when the body was taken home, had ever witnessed. In her eyes there was none like her husband, so clever, so handsome, so sure of becoming one of France's greatest sons. And now he lay dead by the hand of a vile monster. She knelt beside the corpse,, calling on him, now in yearning accents, now in the softest and gentlest tonei of entreaty, now with a smile, to speak to her, to say one word. Mercifully she fell beside him. For a week she lay unconscious, on the verge of death, and only by most devoted and skilful attention of a professional friend of her husband — Dc Leres — was her life saved. " You have been cruelly kind," she said to him when she was recovering ; "it would have been truer kindness to let me die. But now I have been lestored to life I will devote it to liddirg the earth of that monster. He shall die ; by a just G^d, I swear it." " D 'ar madame," said the doctor, •' dismiss all such thoughts. I Bee what you mean ; you would assassinate him, and the law would have no pity on you. You would bo a victim." " D ictor," she said firmly, " he shall die." Madame Soleau gained strength slowly. She would go away for a change, she naid, and one day she set out for Paris. Dr Lores was glad, feeling certain that she had forgotten her vow. One evening, sevfe months later, jost after another scandalous "affiir" of Da Magny's, a handsome and unknown young gentleman entered the Palnib C.»fe at Lyons. The newcomer, who, to judge by hit* tone, was a mere boy, walked with tnucli swagger, talked loudly and authoritatively, and altogether conducted himself with aristocratic insolence. A little later De Magny entered with three of his particular friends. The stranger favoured them with a rude stare that did not pass unnoticed. In a few minutes he RC- up to go. He went a little out of his way to pass near where the four were 6itting, and when close to De Magoy he scumbled, or pretended to stumble — none of the onlookers doubted for a moment that it was intentional — and lurched against him as he was raising ' a glass of wine to his lips. The consequence was that the liquid was spilled on the duellist's immnculate shirt and silken waistcoat. He turned round as if he had been stnng. " Monsieur ! " he cried to the young fellow, who stood with an insolently proud smile on his features. "Monsieur!" said the Unknown. " Monsieur i " said De Magny, more furious than his friends had ever seen him, " you will apologise for your rudeness or clumsiness, whichever it be." " Monsieur, I never apologise for accident*." There was the stillness of death in the cafe. It was evident that the reckless stranger knew not the fearsome reputation of De Magny. " Monsieur, you will apologise or " " Monsieur, I never apologise " " Nor do I apologise for that I " cried De Magny in a tempest of rage, as he picked up a friend's glass and fiang its contents in his opponent's face. The youngster calmly wiped bis face. " Monsier has wantonly insulted me," he said. "I shall demand satisfaction." " Willingly," said De Magny, with his terrible, icy smile. " I shall kill you, puppy." " Perhaps, pig," retorted the other calmly, and then, turning to the spectators, he asked , in a clear voice, " Are there any gentlemen here who will act for a stranger of good birth who has no friends at hand ? " There was a little hesitation, then two gentlemen, one a notary, the other a silk merchant, signified that they would. "Thank you, gentlemen. Shall we confer outside ? " and the young fellow led the way. "My dear sir," said the notary, with agitation, " I warn you — you will be killed," and in trembling accents he told of De Magny's reputation and many villainies. The Unknown heard him with a smile. "Thank you," he said, " I have heard of him, and that is why I came here ; before this time to-morrow you will be well rid of him. Forl shall kill him, gentlemen — the good God will aid me. lam the insulted party, and I select pistols. Arrange it as you will ; I can trust you without reserve. You will find me at the cafe opposite. And allow me to express my deepest gratitude for your kindness." Again they tried to explain, but the Unknown would not listen, and with heUvy hearts they went to confer with Da Magny's seconds. In half an hour they were back. It was to be a duel with pistols at ten paces in the garden behind the Palais, the time | midnight. The seconds were to toss for the first shot. " Thank you, gentlemen ; yon have done me great service. And now, if you please, we will have supper." Just before midnight they walked across to the Palais, and were admitted through a private entrance into the garden, where presently Da Magny, his seconds, and Dr L9res joined them. Dr Leres had been obtained by th.B notary on the suggestion of the Unknown. The preliminaries were soon arranged, and the respective seconds threw the dice for the right of first fire. Da Magny's second threw a three, the stranger's five. " You have the right to fire first, Monsieur i Inconnu," said the notary. A smile of satisfaction overspread bin

featnres. " Ab, I knew it I I knew it 1 " he cried in a tone of absolute conviction. "It is the finger of God." The five spectators looked at Da Msgny. For the first time, it is said, a look of anxiety, even of fear, was observed on his features. He was tinged with superstition, and the Unknown's confidence had shaken bis nerve, and in vain did he try to appear unconcerned. They bad been placed opposite each other, when the Unknown said to the notary : 11 Monsieur, fire off my pistol, if yon please, and load afresh. There must be no mishaps." A protest was raised by D 3 Magny's seconds that it was irregular, but the Unknown insisted, and after some argument and appeals to the law and etiquette of duelling, both pistols were fired off. Strange to say, ■when the trigger was pulled the pistol of M*. Inconnu missed fire, and a fresh cap had to be placed on it before it was dischaiged. "You see," eaid he, "there would have been a mishap, and God's purposes would have been frustrated." Once more the pistols were loaded, and again the dueliists took their places. The incident had farther affected the bravo, and his face was ghastly. " Ready ? " cried the notary. " Monsieur Inconnu. fire 1 " The Unknown slowly raised his pistol until it was pointed at De Magny's heart. He held it there for a quarter of a minute, hie arm as rigid as a bar of steel, then he lowered it again. " Monsieur," he said, slowly and coldly to his antagonist, " God has made j me His minister to end your crimes. But I 1 fire especially to avenge Dr Soleau, whom ] yon wantonly assassinated." And again he \ raiged the pistol, this time pointing it at De Magny's forehead. The latter was almost in 1 a state of collapse, and as the Unknown pulled the trigger, contrary to the regulations that had been made, he lifted hie pistol and fired. It was almost a simultaneous report. De Magny's ball passed through the left arm of the Unknown, breaking the bone ; but at the same instant he gave a leap in the air and fell — dead ! The bullet had passed exactly between the eyes. "Infamous ! infamous 1 " cried the notary to De Magny's seconds. " A scoundrelly act." " What matters it ? " said the Unknown, solemnly, "be has been execated." And then his face turned ghastly as if be were about to faint. In an instant Dr Lsres was at his side, ripped open the sleeve with his penknife, and began to examine the wound. " The infernal scoundrel 1 " he cried. " He has died ac he lived, Dr Lerep,' said the Unknown. "Do you not know me ? " The doctor peered keenly into his face, then started back. " It— it cannot be ! " he cried. " But it 55," said the Unknown. " I am Eatelle Soleau, the unhappy widow of that scoundrel's victim. I have kept my oatb. But it will not bring Ernest back " and she fainted. There was much incredible news for the city next morning that many wonld not believe until the Beconds had been interviewed, and then the rejoicing was great. Madame Solean's act touched the popular imagination, and the bulletins as to her condition were scanned as eagerly as if they concerned the health of a crowned head. It was a dangerous wound, and it was only after weeks of anxiety that all danger was pronounced at an end. A fortnight later she took the veil, not to live in seclusion, but to devote herself to the poor and needy in the slums of Paris.

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