Alexandre Henri Dujarier was co-editor of the Parisian newspaper La Presse when he went to the theatre one night and saw Lola on stage. He was immediately taken with her. He is one of the few men who won Lola's heart. The two became lovers.

On the evening of March 7 1845, Dujarier went to a supper party alone. There was much drinking and carousing. One of the other guests, de Beauvallon picked a fight with Dujarier for neglecting to publish a feuilleton of his Memoires de M Motholon. They decided to settle it with cards. Dujarier was not lucky and he was unable to settle his losses. Both men were tired and their nerves were frayed. Wine was consumed, de Beauvallon was tactless about an old affair of Dujarier's, and Dujarier snapped back "You will hear from me tomorrow".

The notorious and beautiful Lola Montez.

In his office the next day, two visitors representing de Beauvallon demanded satisfaction for the insults he had received from M Dujarier. Dujarier who was no fighter,  (he had never handled steel and was a poor marksman), and opted for pistols. He then sat down, wrote a will and composed two letters, one to his mother and one to Lola.

"My ever dearest Lola: I want to explain why it was that I slept by myself and did not come to you this morning. It is because I have to fight a duel..."

"All my calmness is required, and seeing you would have upset me. By two o'clock this afternoon everything will be over. A thousand fond farewells to the dear little girl I love so much, and the thought of whom will be with me forever..."

On March 11 1845 de Beauvallon arrived one hour late at the appointed spot and found Dujarier still there.

Clearly de Beauvallon intended to find Dujarier gone. By arriving late both would manage to save face and thus honour would be satisfied without firing a shot. He even offered warm pistols to Dujarier. Warm pistols meant they had been recently fired, practised with, and this was against the duelling code. Another excuse for Dujarier to refuse to fight.

The two men took their stance and at the signal the word was given. Dujarier fired first. He missed.

De Beauvallon's hit the spot. Dujarier died before he reached Paris.

Lola was devastated. It was the scandal of the day and was talked about even at royal tables. Though uninvolved in the argument, somehow Lola was blamed. She left France shortly after.

The scandal was not quite over however. One year later, Beauvallon was tried for murder on charges of having test-fired the pistols. Lola went to Rouen to testify against him. Her court appearance added to her escalating notoriety as she created a sensation with her appearance and testimony. Dressed in masses of silk and lace, the court was taken aback by her beauty as she declared that she should have fought Beauvallon herself because she was the better shot.

Beauvallon was acquitted only to be tried for perjury 18 months later found guilty and jailed for eight years

Dressed in masses of silk and lace, the court was taken aback by her beauty.