Duel Before the Camera.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3, 21 July 1906, Page 52

Duel Before the Camera.

*• A duel was fought with pistols at the Parc des Princes this afternoon (Friday. May 11) between the Count de Noailles and M. Lueien Millevoye. Two shots were exchanged without result.” Thus briefly runs the official description of the duel between the fire-eating editor of the Patrie,” M. Millevoye, and his recent opponent at the elections. But such a description is entirely inadequate to the occasion, writes the Paris correspondent of a Laindon journal. Although not one-tenth of French duels erer result in any bloodshed, although there is little in them indeed which would cause an insurance company to make the parties involved “ exceptional risks,” they are always well stage-managed. To-day’s combat was no exception to the rule. Everybody made the most extraordinary efforts to look as solemn and to take matters as seriously as possible. Even the photographers—who are absolutely indispensable at a French duel —wore black, and tried to look as much like seconds as possible. The duel had been announced for 1.30, but the two combatants arrived on the ground a quarter of an hour before their time. They bowed to each other with great formality, and then moved off in different directions in the company of their respective seconds and their respective doctors. The Count had brought with him Dr. Doyen, the famous cancer specialist, and Dr. Doyen had brought a case of instruments large enough to operate on a regiment. The quarter of an hour passed quickly, the seconds spending the time in measuring the ground and tossing for places. The photographers adjusted their cameras, and the journalists their notebooks. Then the director of the eombat took charge of the affairs. He placed a small instrument on a table, and drew the attention of the duellists to it. It was a metronome, such as we have all used in practising our scales at school, and was to beat time for the bloodthirsty encounter, "When I have asked if you are ready,” lie shouted to the duellists, ‘-’you will answer ’Yes.’ Then I shall say, ‘Fire—one—two—three.’ and you will fire between the words ‘fire’ and ‘three.’” The duellists nodded, showing that they understood, and then they grasped their pistols tightly. "Are you ready?” thundered the director of combat. “ Yes,” replied M. Millevoye a little nervously. “ Perfectly,”’ said the Count, with another little smile, which was immediately suppressed. “ Fire—one —two ” shouted the director, and before he could say more two pistol shots rang out. When the smoke had cleared the Count turned and walked up to the fence behind him, from which he extracted M. Millevoye’s bullet with a penknife. He put the bullet in his waistcoat poeket as a souvenir. ’l’he bullet he had fired himself could not l»e found, and M. Millevoye had to go away without it. Then M. Millevoye bowed to the Count, who returned the bow with great formality; the seconds exchanged similar courtesies; the photographers packed up their cameras; and everybody went awav to lunch.