Word: f
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...dingy, one-room flat on the Rue Bonaparte, oil lamps and candles light up the empire fauteuils, the portraits of Napoleon and the etchings of Napoleon's greatest battles. Fèvre has never ridden in the subway or a bus; he steadfastly refuses to switch on an electric light or read a daily paper. "What men call progress," he says bitterly, "is nothing but a sham. Transportation has improved, but noble sentiments become rarer...
Recently young Pierre Merindol, a freelance journalist, thought he would have some fun with Fèvre, get some publicity into the bargain. In the men's magazine Adam he described him as an "homme déshydrate" (a dehydrated fogy),* and got some friends to show the article to Fèvre. Fèvre's Bonapartist pride was stung...
...Said Fèvre: "II faut alter sure le pre!" (We must settle this on the lawn...
...last week two cars carrying the duelists, their seconds and their doctors, drove out of Paris. In a clearing in the Forest of Senart, Fèvre and Merindol got out and took their positions. Merindol had frantically practiced saber fighting for four days, but he was no match for Fèvre's skill. After a few parries the heavy cavalry sword dropped from his bleeding hand. The umpire pronounced him fit to fight on, but had to stop the duel a few seconds later. Fèvre was striking out so furiously (see cut") that he feared...
...agree to a reconciliation?" the umpire asked. Fèvre bowed icily, shook his opponent's hand, and stalked back to the waiting car. Said the umpire: "Honor has been satisfied." The most loyal of France's few remaining Bonapartists had struck a telling blow for his great emporer...