Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-08-07

"Clarkson. | wish you would go back
to the club. find the man with whom
Pinciano has left his case and say to
Il position all to his advantage he is
much mistaken. | am not an Italian
used to Italian methods. but an Amer
lean used to American methods. His
charge is generally understood to be Il
pretext. Technically. if | fight him. l
must challenge him. l will not fight
him unless he will consent to consider
his action at the club this evening not
an insult, but a challenge. If he
agrees to this you are authorized to ac-
cept the challenge. and. since this gives
me the choice of weapons, you may ar
range the affair in this way:
lat 4 O'Clock in the morning l will
start from this hotel. walk down the
Via Cavour to the main thoroughfare
leading to the Pincian gardens and.
turning into it, walk toward them.
The prince is to leave the gardens at
the same time and walk in this di-
%rection. When we meet either may
open fire at will with %revolvers. Either
may take to a side street or any arti-
Gle of defense he may find handy"
1t was generally agreed among the
consulting party that if Denbigh really
meant to fight this was the best posi-
ton that could be suggested. Clark
son went to the club. where he found
Captain Carlucci ready to receive any
communication he might have from
Denbigh. When Clarkson delivered
his message the captain looked sur
prised.
But we do not fight that way here
in Italy," he protested, nor is it done
anywhere in Europe"
And we do not fight your way in
America. 1t is your principal that de-
sires to fight mine. not mine yours.
and since the prince desires a meeting
he must consent to the methods used
in the only part of America where
q%uarrels are settled by arms, and every
day such cases are becoming more
rare as civilization spreads over a
country that has been gradually pass
ing from savages to white men,"
The captain said that he would SUBJ
NIT the proposition to his principal and
withdrew for that purpose. Clarkson
lighted a cigarette and looked over
periodicals for some time. during
which he was thinking what would be
the effect of a proposition so entirely
at variance with the European code
duello. Presently a member of the
club came to him and said that the
prince had referred, the message to
a committee for its decision as to
what reply he should send to Denbigh.
The committee had sent Clarkson's in
formant to him to protest against any
such custom being engrafted upon the
Italian code and would be pleased if
Signor Denbigh would fight according
to the code if the prince We're consid-
cred the challenger, the challenged
man choosing the foils or the pistol.
according to accepted rules.
Clarkson took the responsibility upon
himself Of replying to this for his prin
c1pal in the negative. Denbigh would
fight. if he must fight. under protest.
since there was no just cause for a
quarrel between him and the prince.
But if forced to fight he would only
do so in accordance with the custom
of his WI country. Having delivered
himself of this reply. Clarkson lighted
another cigarette. took up a newspa-
per, and the messenger went back to
the committee with the message.
There is a proper n of courtesy
to visitors in all countries. The COM
mittee recognized that it occupied a
delicate position. An American gentle
man had visited Rome. been introduced
to society by the representative Of his
government and had become popular. A
Roman lady had accepted his atten-
tons. A rival. an Italian of high rank.
had sought to eliminate him from the
lady's circle. first. by an accusation
which was untrue and. second. by fore
ing him to fight under the Italian code.
which had no standing in America.
While the committee recognized that a
pretext was necessary in a case where
a lady was involved. the whole matter
appeared to it as an inhospitable act
to a visitor to Italy.
Its decision was that if Prince Pin
ciano insisted on the meeting he must
accept Denbigh's terms. But it rec
commended that under the circum-
stances tue Italian make a statement
that he had beer mistaken in accusing
Denbigh of having cheated at cards
and apologize for having made the
charge.
The first information Clarkson had of
all this was when a door was opened
and the princes friend. Captain Car
lucci. entered. bearing a written state
ment and apology from his principal to
Denbigh. Clarkson concealed his de-
light. He folded the paper, put it in
his pocket. bowed formally to the cap
tain and leisurely left the club. But
as soon as lie reached the sidewalk he
called a cab and. putting s Ira in adj
vance into the drivers hand. told him
to drive in a hurry to the hotel. Though