DOCTOR IN LOVE WITH PATIENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7687, 23 April 1903, Page 2

DOCTOR IN LOVE WITH PATIENT.

Ki]MO2S"STRANCE AIsD A

KEVOLVJER.

There was a very exciting drama at the Quai d'Orsay, Paris, recently.

As a. lady and gentleman were leaving tho fashionable hotel bearing that name a man rushed up, and, pulling a revolver out of his pocket, fired. The gentleman at whom- lie had aim^d was struck in the forehead by fhe bullet, but the wound fortunately proved to be very slight. The onlookers promptly arrested his assailant, but his companion hurried off, and has not since been seen.

The heroine of this peculiar adventure is the Comtesse de Contades-'M.ery, the wife of an electrical engineer residing in the Invalided district. It was by a physician who is living jusfc outsid© Paris that she wa-si escorted, and her husband gives the following explanation of his conduct. The lady, he says, had been suffering for a long time with acute neurasthenia. He had, therefore, been obliged to look very carefully after her, and to put up with various caprices wnich he would not -have been inclined to tolerate if she had "been in good health. 'Hei had for some time suspected her relations with Dr Bouchet, who, after having town her medical attendant, had beep mo her friend. Ho had, however, hoped that this iwas on?y 'a platonic affair. The Count went on to say that he had kept on the watch, but that, fearing to increase his wife's malady by a scene, he "hadiield his peace. His wife had exclaimedTto him, when speaking of the doctor, "I cannot live without him. If he were not here I do not know what would become of me*" Loving his wife as he did, he had dreaded causing her #hy pain. A few days ago, however, ho had reason to believe that the friendship of the lady and the physician was not of an exclusively sentimental nature. Thirst for vengeance took possession of him, and: that morning he 'followed 'his wife, and, Rationing himself in the road, waited* until the pair should come out of the 1 hotel they had entered at ten o'clock. " Yes," concluded tbe> Count, " I acted with premeditation, and aimed at Bouchet with tho intention of killing him.. I said to myself, 'If I kill him, I. shall do away with the cause of my misfortune, and shall cure my wife.' " The doctor is about forty years of age, and a married man with ieveiral children. M. de Contades-Mery said, in the course of an examination) which has since been renewed, that his suspicious were first arousedi a year ago. He spokei to Dr Bouchet on the subject, and later on again he had to remonstrate, with the .result Vhat he forbade the physician to return- to his ihouse. Then he» perceived that tllere were secret meetings, and when he reproached his wife, she cried, " Kill roe, if you like, but I cannot help it. I cannot resist thei temptation of seeing Dr Bou-

chet," • . The Count came to the conclusion thai in suppressing the cause he would suppress the effect, so that was -why he followed his -wife when she left their home. 'M. de Contades-Mery added that when, he saw blood flowing on the doctor's face after the first shot he had not the heart to fire again, and put the revolver 'back in his pocket. His mother-in-law, who belongs to a very ■old; Breton family, lays all the blame on the doctor, who, she declares, even proposed an elopement to her daughter. The Count, she adds, was a kind husband and a thoroughly honourable man. and the physician showed the blackest ingratitude to him. As for the doctor, it is now affirmed that he was separated from his wife sevea-ai Yeats ago, and was living with his mother, and that he met Ma&ame de Contades-Mery every day. In spite of all the. search which has 'been made, mot* ing has been eeen of the heroine of ,the< drama since- it occurred.