worthy of such preferment, or that it could possibly possess such
merit as to warrant its being placed side by side with those of the
immortal masters, whose humblest follower he had ever deemed
himself. No wonder his heart beat now so quickly, and he breathed so
fast; the goal of his ambition was before him, and almost within his
grasp. It seemed only necessary for him to reach out his hand and
pluck the garland of success and of renown. The pause that had
intervened here was but for a single moment of time, when it was
once more broken by the duke himself, who spoke, as he felt, most
kindly and in encouraging tones.

"Signor Americano," said the duke, "thy habiliments are those of one
whose purse is but narrowly lined, and we are at a loss to account
for this willingness to part with that which has cost thee labor of
months, and in which thou hast been so eminently successful. We do
much crave the picture, but will nevertheless forego its possession
unless it can be had at our own valuation."

"As the picture was painted for your excellenza, and you design for
it such honor, I could wish its free acceptance; but it must be
yours on any terms," said Carlton.

The assembly then dispersed, and our hero received a purse of gold
for his picture, exceeding in amount his wildest expectations of
what he might earn by his art in years of industry and frugality.

The scene he had successfully perfected, represented two applicants
for justice, standing before the Pope of Rome. They were priests,
and had come before him for his judgment in the matter of contention
between them. They were ushered into the presence of the pope by a