FERDINAND LASSALLE.
53
almost immediately, a young Wallachian Boyar, Baron Janko
von Racowitza, and she herself announced the fact to Lassalle.
The rage and despair of this haughty man were thus excited to
the utmost. Nothing can better depict the agitation of a fierce
and passionate nature than the letters which he wrote, during
this critical month of August, to his friends and to the ¿rl who
was deserting him. Feverish telegrams despatched at every
instant, extraordinary proceedings, frenzied appeals, fits of
passion, journeys post-haste in all directions—it is a veritable
picture of modern life, nervous and overheated to excess.
^ssalle returned to Geneva towards the end of the month
bearing a letter from the Bavarian Minister of Foreign Affairs,'
which he hoped might induce Herr von Doenniges to grant
im an interview with Helena. He was certain she would
never resist the power of his voice and personal influence • but
she absolutely refused to see him. Enraged beyond all bounds,
he demanded satisfaction in insulting terms from Herr von
Doenniges. Racowitza presented himself to answer the challenge.
His two seconds. Dr. Arndt and Count Kaiserlink, who
was to marry Helena’s sister, demanded the return of all her
letters. Colonel Riistow and the Hungarian, General Bethlen,
who acted for Lassalle, absolutely refused. The duel was then
desired by both adversaries. It took place on the 28th August,
1864, in the neighbourhood of Carouge. Lassalle fell at the
first shot, mortally wounded. Three days later he died at the
Hotel Victoria in Geneva.*
The Countess Hatzfeld brought his remains back to Germany
^ way of the Rhine. It was like a triumphal march. At
Mayence a most imposing ceremony was arranged, principally
by the care of the Catholic clergy. In order to put an end to
these manifestations, which were moving the Socialist body in
same subject, Im Amchlnss an die Memoiren
tnand Lassalle, trad, dal russo de Z. E. Florence, 1878.
