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nothing certain was known ; I therefore did not think it yet time 
to ask to see the Viscountess. It was said that Count de Rice 
had been carried to a furnished lodging. I went thither ; he was 
very glad to see me, and related the subject of their quarrel. The 
origin of it was not important ; but the manner in which it had 
been conducted, he said, rendered it so. He had made some 
representations to the Viscount relative to some offensive 
imprecations which frequently escaped him ; the latter had taken 
offence at the remonstrance, and, in the heat of dispute, had 
given him the lie. The Viscount, who was extremely irritable, 
could not support the coolness of his friend, and grew more warm ; 
at last things came to such a height that both parties agreed to 
fight with sword and pistol till one or the other should fall. 
It has been said that this was only a pretext, and that 
Viscount du Barri had begun to hate Count de Rice, who had 
himself expressed some uneasiness upon this subject to a lady of 
Bath. But I have reason to think that this opinion was without 
foundation. They had sent for Mr. Toole, and a Mr. Rogers an 
Irish gentleman, to be their seconds upon the occasion, and, 
taking a surgeon with them, had all set off together out of town. 
They waited four hours till day-break in a carriage which they 
had taken at Bath, and during that interval settled the conditions 
of the duel. The Viscount, who was impatient to fight, left the 
carriage at day-break, and the ground having been taken, he 
fired the first shot and wounded Count de Rice in the thigh. The 
Count then fired, and the ball, penetrating the Viscount’s breast, 
severed the grand artery and he fell, the blood flowing copiously 
from the wound. Count de Rice advanced towards him with his 
sword in his hand ; when the Viscount, feeling himself weakened, 
begged his life. “TI give it you,” replied his adversary ; but as he 
said these words he saw him roll upon the ground, vomit blood, 
and a moment after expire. Count de Rice, no longer able to 
stand, seated himself upon the ground, and the surgeon dressed 
his wound. The ball had penetrated the upper part of the thigh 
