THE DUEL.
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.
-Timon of Athens.
AS we have said, Petro, finding that nothing short of an open and
downright insult could bring Carlton to be the challenging party,
therefore resolved to make a bold attempt to accomplish this. He was
revolving this matter over in his mind, when an event occurred which
led 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, discovered Florinda leaning from a balcony in the lower range
of the palace, and in close conversation with his hated rival,
Carlton. This was sufficient, under the circumstances, to raise all
his fiery spirit, and he determined that it should serve him as a
pretext for a quarrel.
Placing himself hard by where he knew Carlton must pass in his
leave-taking of the palace, he patiently awaited his coming; and but
a short time elapsed before Carlton, bidding good night to Florinda,
was hastening from the spot, when he encountered Petro, whose dark
countenance was the very picture of rage, while his large, dark eyes
were wild with inward passion.
"Signor Carlton!"
"Signor Petro!"
They exclaimed, on confronting each other.
Carlton for a moment was thrown off his habitual guard, and losing
his temper, was about to retort upon Petro with interest, both in
frown and, if need be, with blows also. But recalling himself, he
assumed his usual precaution, and looked upon the angry Italian
coolly, and without the least exhibition of temper.
"Well, Signor Carlton."
"Well, Signor Petro."
"Your mock me, signor."
"You mock me, signor."
"Signor, you are my enemy."
"You seem to wish me so."
"This talk will not serve for you, signor."
"If you like it not, it were best for you to step on one side, and I
will pass."
The Italian bit his lips with suppressed rage, and seemed too angry
to trust even his voice; but he did not remain long silent.
"Signor Americano," said Petro, warmly, "you have insulted my uncle
and myself by this secret interview with Signora Florinda, and I
demand of you immediate satisfaction for it."
"Signor Petro, I have no cause for contention with you," was the
reply of Carlton. "I know you love not the lady, and you are equally
aware of her feelings towards you. Why then, I ask, should there be
strife between us upon this subject? Surely, you would not seek the
hand of one who does not love you! This is inconsistent, Signor
Petro."
"Do you accept my challenge, or shall I brand you as a coward in the
streets of Florence," was the abrupt and passionate rejoinder. "It
would sound bravely, by our lady, to write coward against the name
you have rendered so popular, sir artist, among the nobilita in
Florence."
"I will have no contention with thee," said Carlton, his feelings
struggling warmly with his determination to avoid the course which
his early education had taught him to regard with the utmost
abhorrence.
"Then I will brand thee as a coward!"
"Until you do that, I shall never fight you," said Carlton, calmly.
"I would rather lose my hand than draw the blood of one related by
any ties to her I love; but if it must be so, you can take your own
counsel."
"This is fine language, signor."
"It is honest language."
"I should require other evidence to make me think so."
"Because you cannot appreciate the feelings that dictate it."
"In what respect?"
"As they are caused by my regard for Signora Florinda."
"It is well to assume a virtue, if we have it not," said the
Italian, scornfully.
"I assume nothing, Signor Petro."
"Flatter not yourself that you can escape me by this assumed tone of
feeling, Signor Americano."
"You have my answer, signor."
"I shall take an early opportunity to keep you at your word," was
the menacing reply, and they separated.
Carlton would rather have engaged with any other person in an affair
of this kind than with Petro, for obvious reasons; and, as he said
to him, besides which, he had the greatest aversion to "affairs of
honor," but from principle only, for his was as brave a heart as
ever drew sword.
Petro at length hit upon a plan which must necessarily bring on the
desired meeting. Accordingly, at the cordon of the Grand Duke, on
the following week, at the Pitti Palace, when Carlton entered the
gorgeous apartments, a murmur ran through the assembly, raised by
the friends of Petro, who had preconcerted the plan, of "Coward,
coward!"
It was uttered, as we have said, in whispers, but it is a word that
can be heard a long distance. The young American did not even change
color, but turning his bright and sparkling eyes upon some of the
principal offenders, he gave 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 gaily with the
ladies of the court. His fine noble countenance was lit up with
additional spirit, and his friends even complimented him on his
happy appearance. Yet it was all forced-ay, a lie that his proud
heart compelled him to.
"What a goodly outside falsehood hath!" How many there are like
Carlton at that moment! While they smile, they but hide a raging
passion within. A smile may cover up the wildest storm of the
spirit, as well as show forth its own sunshine!
The giddy dance went on, and gayety was the mistress of the hour.
Carlton mingled in the dance, and even by good chance succeeded in
gaining the hand of Florinda for a set. Her uncle, fearing the
displeasure of the 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 flew by as hours only fly along the
happy, until the time had nearly arrived for the guests to depart,
when Carlton, coolly walking up to Petro, who stood in an exposed
situation, said, in a tone not to be mistaken:
"Signor Petro, follow me!"
"Si, Signor Americano," was the prompt reply.
Both left the hall together, the friends of Petro alone
understanding the probable design of the movement. The two sought a
secluded cafe in silence, and then settled the preliminaries for a
meeting, or duel, on the following morning, in which Petro declared
one of them should fall.
"I would have escaped this encounter for your sake as well as my
own," said Carlton, after the arrangements were concluded. "I know
very well that you have a reputation for being an expert swordsman,
but I fear not. Justice is stronger than art, and you will find it
so, Signor Petro, on the morrow."
"I do not wish to anticipate, Signor Americano, but I must advise
thee to prepare for death on the morrow."
"True, Signor Petro," said Carlton, earnestly, "neither of us
knows what the morrow may bring forth."
"Signor," said Petro, now in evident good humor at his anticipated
success, "you should have chosen the pistol, to have placed yourself
in any possibility on equal terms with me."
"I can use either," was the reply.
"Ay, as a child would use them. What has thy profession to do with
arms, that thou shouldst ever deign to know their use? It is not yet
too late-say, shall it be pistols? You can yet choose," said Petro,
touched with that spirit of honor which would sometimes actuate him.
"I have already spoken on that point," said Carlton.
"Very well, then, signor, with the sword. But in that case, the game
will possess but little interest, being all on one side."
"To-morrow's sun can speak more fittingly of these things than we
can do to-night," was Carlton's reply.
"You bear yourself with assurance, signor."
"We will not hold any controversy, Signor Petro."
"Until to-morrow."
"At the appointed time I shall be ready."
"Be sure I shall expect you."
"We understand each other on that point."
"Hold, will you bring weapons, or shall I procure them?"
"Our seconds can arrange for us."
"True."
Thus saying, the two separated to meet on the following morning at a
secluded spot in the Apennines, which rise gracefully from the very
gates of Florence, gradually attaining to an immense height, and
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 passage,
and seen the blue water that lies among the Italy mountains. He must
have looked upon the Apennines from the sea, and run down the coast
that teems with the recollections of three thousand years.
The mist was slowly creeping up the mountain's side on the following
morning, scarcely three hours from the time that the duke's guests
had departed, when Petro and his friends, closely followed 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 should
cool the passions of any creature. Not so with Petro; for the
Italian fire of his spirit was up-the dark, deep passions of his
nature-and nought but blood could appease their cravings.
The spot was gained, and each made the usual preliminary
arrangements-all being prepared, the two approached each other.
Carlton had disrobed himself of coat and vest, and now stood before
his 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 to
compel him to remove his tight-fitting upper garments. A few moments
were passed in the usual guards and thrusts, when anon commenced the
feint, the ward, as each grew warmer in the contest.
It was evident to all at the outset that Carlton as well as Petro
was master of his weapon. This much had surprised those who had
supposed him not possessed of the least knowledge of the exercise.
But Petro found him far more than a match for all his boasted skill
and experience, but with great astonishment, he continued to exert
himself to the utmost.
It was a singular scene, that presented by the two combatants thus
arraigned before each other in mortal combat. The Italian heated,
his eyes and face swollen with excitement and passion, while his
antagonist was as calm and unmoved in temper, as though he were
fencing with the foils, and only for pleasure. It was a tragic
scene, as evincing the brute nature to which man can bring himself.
In the heat of the contest, Petro soon lost his temper, while
Carlton, cool and collected, parried his wild and headlong thrusts
with consummate skill; and at length, after showing him how
fruitless were all his efforts to wound him, Carlton by a masterly
movement disarmed his antagonist of his blade, at the same time
striking the left hand of the Italian a blow with the flat of his
sword that laid it bare to the bone!
This put a stop to the duel for a few moments, when Petro, almost
beside himself with rage, now threw from him his upper garments in
imitation of Carlton, and having had his hand properly dressed, yet
smarting under the severe wound he had received, resumed his sword--
Carlton remaining in the meantime resting upon his sword, careless,
as it were, whether the fight was resumed or not.
"Signor Petro," said Carlton, when they approached each other the
second time, "it is evident to your friends, I presume, that you are
no match for me in the weapons we hold. I advise you to withdraw
from the contest. You have already expended your blood in the
vindication of this system of honor, and wounded as you now are, can
hardly do yourself justice."
"Stand to your defence!" said the enraged Petro, whose blood was now
completely up. And unheeding the generous proposal and language of
his antagonist, he rushed upon Carlton almost without warning, thus
essaying to take advantage 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; had it been
otherwise, he could at any moment have drawn the heart's blood of
his enemy, who, only intent on the life of his successful rival,
strove not at all to protect himself from the sword of Carlton while
they fought.
Carlton again permitted him to work thus in his wild fury for some
minutes, when at length, by another masterly effort with his weapon,
he again disarmed his antagonist, 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 earnestness, that
it fell powerless by his side. Though severely wounded in both arms,
still in his wild rage the Italian could hardly be persuaded to
leave the ground peaceably.
Thus ended the duel between Carlton and Petro.