Fiction or Fact?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7930, 20 September 1905, Page 2

Fiction or Fact?

Romance of a Society Lady' is the title of a novel by jtfdlle Fenoux, who signs "Amtdee d'Autreville," aim it also describes her own story m real life. On July 13 last she' +u a , Barou de .LadouceWe outside the door of his own hotel" ?. he Vendome, and (says tha Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent) when he came out she blazed away in his direction with & revol-s ver, hitting, however, only the wall, Placed under arrest, she just told her story to the examining magistrate, and a romantic tale she makes of it. She went to the Itaron with the manuscript of 'Le Roman d'une Fcmme du Monde ' under her arm. He was charming, said her talent was incomparable and her book a masterpiece. Very soon, so she relates, he proposed -that they should liva the lbmance out in real life and she started on a journey to ciittany with him. They, howevergot no further than the St. Lazara railway station, near to which' they put up together at a hotel, remaining there some weeks. Having induced 1 her to burn all his love-letters, the taron one day told.her that he had had enough of her, and sent her back to t mourning parents. That was why she tod on him. So much for her story, bin the barou tells a very different, one. She did bring him a | manuscript entitled 'Romanc? of a Society Lady,' but the rest of her narrative is as much fiction as her novel. He vaguely promised—just as one does you know," he said-to find a publisher for the :book threa years ago, bift, of course, did not. bince then the lady has persecuted ftini, and he has been obliged to seek protection from the police. As for 1 her version of their relations, he protested strongly against it. He would never dream, and never had' dreamt, of failing to show the lady novelist the greatest respect. As fot starting with her for Brittany and landing in a hotel near the St. Lazaie station, such an idea had never' enteied his head, nor ever would. The baron refused ( 0 prosecute the' lady, whom lie considers to be the Mctun of an excessively romantic .magmaucu Mdlie Fenous, who is tluity, is vfeiy well connected, and peoi>je U ' ents aIC Well " to " <1<) provincial •