patronage of the Grand Duke, and his own work, which occupied the
favored place in the Pitti Palace, having raised him to the pinnacle
of fame as an artist.

All Italy honored the productions of the fortunate American, and
scarcely could a Raphael or a Titian have been more respected or
honored. It was his own genius that had raised him and no accident
of fortune.

"This young American monopolizes the market with his brush just
now," said one artist to another.

"Ay, and gets such princely prices, too, for his pictures! Funny
world, this! It is scarcely three months since he was likely to
starve for want of work."

"All the Grand Duke's doings; he can make as easily as he can mar a
man", replied the other.

"But a man must have genius to fill the place Carlton holds."

"As much as you might put on a knife's point-no more," said the
other, enviously.

The long Italian day is past, and its shadows have died over the
neighboring mountains, giving place to the voluptuous and dewy
twilight, which lightly wraps itself with its soft mantle of studded
stars closely about the lovely breast of the Val d'Arno. But a few
hours later, and the Palazzo Pitti is one blaze of light, and the
thrilling music of the duke's favorite band resounds already among