A LONG DUEL

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 79

A LONG DUEL

The medieval custom, of settling quarrels by personal combat dies hard on the Continent, and few tfhinga contribute more to the mirth of nations than the jests and caricatures inspired by the duelling exploits of our Gallic neighbours. The development among the French of that sense of humour which is our particular .pride* and consequently the fuller recognition of the farcical nature of , such a. settlement, possibly account for the disappearance of that "thirst for gore," of that determination to fight to a finish, whioh formerly characterised^ the French duel. , The following story presents' a striking contrast to- those we- are- now accustomed to hear, and gives 'us some idea of the character of those dashing- beaux eabreuxs by whose aid Napoleon became the scourge V>f Europe. In the city of Strasbourg at the close of the eighteenth century, soldiers of all ranks had ample opportunities of picking quarrels whenever they wished. A captain of hussars named Fournier indulged in this amusement to his heart's con- ■ tent, and became celebrated, for 1 his aggressive temper and: his address with aims. Strasbourg had to reproach, him for the loss of several of his sons, and especially fwr having challenged without any plausible reason a young man named Blume, whom he kiEed without tihe slightest pity. On we? very day of Blume's funeral General Mareau gave a- ball, to which were invited aU the member© of the high.]

' bourgeoise. It was desirable to avoid the scandalous scenes- which could not fail to take place between the fellowtownsmen, perhaps the- relations, of' the unfortunate deceased and the aggressor, who was styled his murderer. General Mbreau therefore desired his aide-de-camp, Captain Dupont, to prevent Captain Four- . .nier from entering the ballroom. ■. Dupont stationed himself in a corner o$ one of the antechambers, and immediately he caught sight of him accosted biniabruptly. "What aip you going to do here?" "Ah! is that- you, Dupont? Good evening. Parbteu ! you- see what I am doing. I am come to" the ball."' 'f "Are you not "ashamed to come to a ball the very, day of" the- funeral* of that poor fellow Bourne? "What will his friends and. relations say?" , ~ • \ "They may say what they please ; it is all one»-to me. But- 1 should like to ask. what business that is of yours*'' ;"It is-- everybody's b'usinessVi Evet^cdv i& thinking and ■talking, about- it."' /'Everybody is wrong then. . I dqn't like people, to poke- their noses- into* my affairs. And" now, if you : please, let me passv," "You. shall .not go into the- ballroom." "Indeed, why not?" .' "You must take yourself off. The .general orders you to return to your own apartments." "Am I tur/ied out of the houee?" Dopant shrugged his shoulders. ! "Are you aware of the consequences of turning (Fournier out of doors?" "f don't want to hear any of your rodomontades. Just have the goodness, to take- yourself off;" "Listen!" said Fournier in a fury. 'I cannot have my revenge of the general, because he is my superior officer ; but you are my equal ; you. have presumed to take your share in. the insult, and. you shall pay for the whole- of it. We will fight !" "Listen in turn," said Dupont. "I have long been out of patience with you. lam disgusted .with your bullying ways, and. I hope to give you a lesson you will longremember." Fouornier would have gone mad with vexation had he not been consoled- by the hope of killing Dupont?. But the result of the combat was not what he expected^ for - Dupont- gave him a frightful wound. "You fence well," said Fournier as he fell. "Not badly, as -you see." t , ' "Ye&; but now I know your, play,' Yon} won't catch me another / Lime, as I" will soon show you." "You wish for another encounter? ■ "Parbleu! that's- a matter of. course.'* -, In fasct, after a few weeks' nursing Fournier for the second; time was face to face , with his adversary. It. was 1 now his torn. He gave Dupenfe a. home-thrust with'" the comment, "TFou see you hold your handtoo low to parry properly. After your lunge you gave me. time, to stick three inches of cold jron between your ribs."' "This is only the second act," cried Dupont. "We'll" come to the catastrophe as soon as possible." At the third meeting" they each received a trifling scratch. So these two fire-eaters, • annoyed, at such a negative result, agreed 'to recommence- the straggle- until one of the two confessed' himself beaten. They therefore drew- up a*, teeaty to- this effect,, and whenever the madmen were able to 'meet they fought. Their persons were marked- with numerous scars-, yet 1 they continued. to cut and* slash, at one another. lin most enthusiastic style.- Fournier used -to observe now and then, "It is? really astonishing that I, who- always- kill my "man, cannot contrive to kill, that deviL Dtopont." ' After these encounl|er& had continued some years Dupont, now promoted to the rank" of general, received orders to. join the army of the Grisons. He. w,a* not expected, and was trying- in vain to find a lodging, when he perceived » chalet, ' through whose -windows a light was gleaming. He knocked at the door and- entered. A man was writing at a. bureau; -he turned. his head, and, recognising his visitor, said before the other could cross the 'threshold', "Ah,- is that you, Dupont? We will have a little sword-play/ "With all my heart," said Dupont to Fournier, who chanced to be the occu- ' pant of the chalet ; and they set to work, chatting between the passes. "I thought you were employed in the interior," said Fournier.. "The Minister has promoted me to the fourth corps." f . "Vraiment! What a curious comic;ldenoe! I command the cavalry tfiere. And so you have only just arrived? I am delighted." At last General Duponfs sword, after piercing General Founder's shoulder, struck the wall. "Sapristi!" v shouted Fournier. "You didn't expect- that." • "On the contrary, directly I left my, guard I knew I" was caught. But 'tis you who don't" expect what is going to happen." During this little dialogue Dupont kept Fournier pinned to the wall, as a naturalist would a butterfly. "Well, what will happen?" "Th© moment you stir I shall give yon a thrust •in the beHy. You are a deadr t man,'* said (Pournier. '1 shall parry your thrust." 'Impossible." I "I shall keep you pinned till you throw i down your sword." I "I ehall not do thaf. I intend, £c kill you." Fortunately the noise made by the two generals 'was heard by some officers, who separated the combatants.

Dupont, the more reasonable of the tw_o,, sometimes tiuragb* of ther absurdity of quarrel which still went on after so many conflicts, and at last decided' to make an end of tie matter. One morning he called on Fournier. "Are you come to fix a day for amatcli?" inquired the latter*

"Yesr; but first of all *lefe us talk a. little. Listen. I intend to get married, and before doing so I should like to b* done with you." "Oh ! oh!" "Our quarrel has now Tasted for 19 years. Ldo not wish to continue a style of life which my wife might consider not exactly comfortable, and therefore I am come to propose a- change in> the mode of combat. One of my friends, has, at Neuilly, an enclosure planted with trees, surrounded, by walls with. two. doors, one* at each end. * At the hour agreed we will* go to the enclosure separately, armed with' two holster pistols,, to take a> single shot with each. We will try which can find, the other, and whoever catches sight o/ the other ehall fire." "That's a droll idea." "Does it suit you?" "Ten o'clock on Thursday morning — will that do?" "Agreed. Adieu till Thursday." ;'* They were punctual at their rendezvous, - and as soon as they- were inside the- enclosure they sought each other cautiously. >They advancpd- slowly, cocked pistols in ■ their hands, eye. on the watch and ear all attention. At, the turn- of an? alley 1 they perceived each other. They threw. , themselves- behind-, a* couple if trees and waited. At last Dupont resolved to~ act. He waved' the tail ofT his coat just outside ' tfie' tree whioh protected- him ; then he : protruded his arm, drawing it back instantly. Immediately a bullet sent a large piece of bark flying. Fournier had lost a eliot. After a time Dupont recommenced' th« I same manoeuvre on the opposite side o{ the "tree trunk.. ~vritiurat, however, draw< ing his. adversary's fire. Then, holding hit hat in his hand, he displayed- it as fa* as the brim. In a twinkling, the hat waiblown away ; fortunately there, was nohead inside it. Fournier, therefore, had" ' wasted his second > bullet. Dupont then sallied' from his fortress' marched up to his opponent, who • awaited him in. the attitude of, a> brave man for whom there is no further hope. When Dupont was close to him he said, "I can kjll yo.u if I" like — it is my right and my privilege-; but I cannot fire at a' human creature in cold blood. I spar* yojur life." "As you. please." "I spare you to-day ; but you clearly understand, that I remain the master of my own property, of which I allow you* • the " provisional' enjoyment. If ever you--give me- arty trouble, if- ever, yom try tqr pick a quarrel with me; 1 shall take theliberty of reminding you. that I' am tha- ' lawful owner of' a couple* of bullets specie aily designed to be- lodged in your skull;! and we- will resume the affair exactly ail the point where I think proper to leave Hfc to-day." So ended a. duel begun in 1794 and. finished in 1813.— Frederick W. Heryet, it Cliainbers's Journal.