The Duke's Prize A Story of Art and Heart in Florence

is to hazard

n of

him to be the challenger in fact. He was strolling home from the weekly cordon of the Grand Duke one evening, and was just turning an angle of his uncle's palace walls, when hearing the voice of a female in answer to that of a man, he paused, and following the sound, discov

; and but a short time elapsed before Carlton, bidding good night to Florinda, was hastening from the spot, when he encoun

or Ca

or Pe

, on confronti

Petro with interest, both in frown and, if need be, with blows also. But recalling himself, he assumed h

Signor

Signor

ock me,

ck me,

you are m

m to wis

l not serve fo

re best for you to step on

age, and seemed too angry to trust even hi

my uncle and myself by this secret interview with Signora F

and you are equally aware of her feelings towards you. Why then, I ask, should there be strife between us upon t

as the abrupt and passionate rejoinder. "It would sound bravely, by our lady, to write cowar

ruggling warmly with his determination to avoid the course which his

brand thee

would rather lose my hand than draw the blood of one related by any t

ine langua

onest la

other evidence to

appreciate the feeli

at res

d by my regard for

e a virtue, if we ha

n, sco

othing, Sig

an escape me by this assumed ton

my answe

to keep you at your word," was the

tro, for obvious reasons; and, as he said to him, besides which, he had the greatest aversion

f the Grand Duke, on the following week, at the Pitti Palace, when Carlton entered the gorgeous apartments, a mur

ave them a look that touched them keenly. He did not evince by any outward appearance how deeply his pride was wounded, but he felt it at heart none the less severely. He even looked more cheerful than was his wont, conversing g

moment! While they smile, they but hide a raging passion within. A smile may c

e duke, avoided any public opposition as we have before said, to the attentions of Carlton; consequently in public he enjoyed her society as one friend may enjoy that of another, while the world are by. The hours

Petro, f

ricano," was th

he movement. The two sought a secluded cafe in silence, and then settled the preliminaries for

gements were concluded. "I know very well that you have a reputation for being an expert swordsman,

r Americano, but I must advise thee

n, earnestly, "neither of us know

cipated success, "you should have chosen the pistol, to hav

either," wa

t ever deign to know their use? It is not yet too late-say, shall it be pistols? You can y

poken on that poi

But in that case, the game will possess bu

ttingly of these things than we ca

self with assu

d any controvers

to-mo

nted time I s

I shall e

d each other

ing weapons, or sh

s can arran

ru

d making their home among the clouds. To have travelled where we would fain have taken the reader at the outset, one must have sailed in the southern seas among the islands, have run the Gibraltar pas

wed by Carlton and his companion, sought the appointed rendezvous for the meeting. The cool, fresh breeze of the morning air, that strengthened as they ascended the mountain, one would think

antagonist clothed only in his lower garments and linen. Petro laughingly told his companions that he could punish the Americano with his garments on, not deeming the task of sufficient weight

ose who had supposed him not possessed of the least knowledge of the exercise. But Petro found him far more than a mat

d, his eyes and face swollen with excitement and passion, while his antagonist was as calm and unmoved in temper, as though he wer

mate skill; and at length, after showing him how fruitless were all his efforts to wound him, Carlton by a masterly movement disarmed his an

s in imitation of Carlton, and having had his hand properly dressed, yet smarting under the severe wound he had received, resume

e, that you are no match for me in the weapons we hold. I advise you to withdraw from the contest. You have already exp

vantage of him; but the quick and practised eye of the latter saved him, and the rain of blows and thrusts that Petro made at him were as harmless as hail-stones upon a slated roof. Carlton acted entirely on the defensive;

t, throwing his blade over the heads of the company, and immediately, apparently with the same effort, he wounded Petro in the sword arm with such force and earnestnes

duel between Ca