ated that he determined to fight a duel.

In Austria it is a criminal offence to fight a duel, and all the persons
engaged in an affair of the kind can be imprisoned for from one to five
years.

The Prime Minister, however, felt that he had been so terribly insulted
that nothing but a duel could satisfy his sense of honor.

He therefore telegraphed to the Emperor, asking his permission to fight.

Duelling used to be a very common practice in Europe, and was considered
the only means of avenging an insult. It was, however, carried to such
an extent, that men would call one another out, as it was termed, for
the most trifling offence. So many good and brave men were killed in
this unreasonable manner, that one country after another began to make
laws forbidding the practice. These laws have only been in force for a
very few years, and in cases where men are terribly provoked, they still
turn to duelling as a means of settling their disputes.

The Emperor of Austria, when he learnt of the shameful things that had
been said to the Count, felt that, were he in the Premier's place,
nothing but a duel could satisfy his honor, and so he gave his
permission, and the duel took place.

Count Badeni was shot in the arm, and severely wounded; Dr. Wolff
escaped unhurt.

Immediately the duel had taken place the Premier's enemies seized upon
it as a means of disgracing him.

They raised a tumult about it, and declared that a man who would break
the law by fighting a duel was not fit to manage the affairs of
Government, and begged that the Count be dismissed from office, and
arrested.

The Premier was, however, well aware of the serious nature of the act he
contemplated, and that duelling was not a becoming occupation for a
Prime Minister, so, when he asked the Emperor's permission to fight, he
also sent in his resignation as Prime Minister.

The Emperor of Austria appears to be a very fair-minded man. Having
given his permission for the duel, he was not going to desert the Count.

He refused to accept the Count's resignation, and, as a reply to the
enemies of his Prime Minister, issued a decree forbidding the courts
from prosecuting the Count for breaking the law.

Such a decree would not do for us in America, where the law is the
highest power in the state, and even the President is bound to obey it;
but in Austria, where such a thing was possible, it was certainly very
considerate of the Emperor to stand so bravely by h