[London,] 2 September 1864 

Dear Frederick, 

Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Freiligrath, of 
which copy below; from it you will see that Lassalle has been 
gravely wounded in a duel in Geneva. I went to see Freiligr. that 
same evening. However, he had not received any more telegrams. 
Incidentally, he told me— entre nous*—that his bank was in a state 
of crisis, aggravated by the affair in Geneva and the role Fazy had 
played in the same.*° 

Salut. 

Your 
K. M. 

‘Dear Marx, 

‘I have just had a letter from Klapka in Geneva, containing the sad news that, on 
30 August, Lassalle fought a duel in Geneva with a Wallachian pseudo-prince‘ and 
was mortally wounded. Herewith the details from K.’s letter.... 

‘“Lassalle had been conducting a love-affair here, though with perfectly 
honourable intentions as he wished to marry the girl,4 the daughter of the Bavarian 
envoy, von Dénniges. The father objected to the marriage, the girl deceived poor 
Lassalle; a man to whom she had been previously engaged, the above-mentioned 
pseudo-prince, arrived from Berlin; then came explanations, an unpleasant exchange 
of letters, and a challenge ensued. Lassalle’s seconds were Colonel Riistow and my 
fellow countryman, General Count Bethlen. Lassalle, as befitted a man of his 
reputation and political position, behaved with no less courage than dignity. He was 
shot in the stomach and is now laid up at the Hotel Victoria with his life hanging in the 
balance. Unfortunately for him, the bullet is lodged deep in the body, so the wound 
might well become gangrenous. J went to see him at once upon my arrival anc foun: 
him dictating his will, but otherwise calm and resigned to death. I am excee , 
sorry for him; often one does not get to know a person until his end is near at. # 

handwriting in the original (see also p. 557). - ¢ J. von ¥ 
Donniges 

556 : 337. Marx to Jenny Marx. 2 September 1864 

Let us hope that, despite the doctors’ unfavourable prognoses, he will come safely 
through the crisis.” 
‘So much for Klapka.’