 | ATROCITIES, DUELS, SUICIDES, AND EXECUTION OF
GAMBLERS. The gaming table : its votaries and victims, in all times and countries,
especially in England and in France. Vol. 2 |  |
DUEL WITH A SHARPER.
A Monsieur de Boisseuil, one of the Kings equerries, being at a card-party, detected one of the players cheating, and exposed his conduct.
The insulted `gentleman' demanded satisfaction, when Boisseuil replied that he did not fight with a person who was a rogue.
`That may be,' said the other, `but I do not like to be called one.'
They met on the ground, and Boisseuil received two desperate wounds from the sharper.
This man's plea against Boisseuil is a remarkable trait. Madame de Staël has alluded to it in her best style. `In France,' she says, `we constantly see persons of distinguished rank, who, when accused of an improper action, will say — "It may have been wrong, but no one will dare assert it to my face!'' Such an expression is an evident proof of confirmed depravity; for, what would be the condition of society if it was only requisite to kill one another, to commit with impunity every evil action, — to break one's word and assert falsehood — provided no one dared tell you that you lied?'
In countries where public opinion is more severe on the want of probity and fair-dealing, should a man transgress the laws of these principles of human conduct, ten duels a day would not enable him to recover the esteem he has forfeited.
| ATROCITIES, DUELS, SUICIDES, AND EXECUTION OF
GAMBLERS. The gaming table : its votaries and victims, in all times and countries,
especially in England and in France. Vol. 2 | |