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arrangements for conducting the duel。 The paper was dated
〃Naples； February 22d；〃 and was divided into some seven or eight
clauses。 The first clause described the origin and nature of the
quarrela very disgraceful affair on both sides； worth neither
remembering nor repeating。 The second clause stated that； the
challenged man having chosen the pistol as his weapon； and the
challenger （an excellent swordsman）； having； on his side；
thereupon insisted that the duel should be fought in such a
manner as to make the first fire decisive in its results； the
seconds； seeing that fatal consequences must inevitably follow
the hostile meeting； determined； first of all； that the duel
should be kept a profound secret from everybody； and that the
place where it was to be fought should not be made known
beforehand； even to the principals themselves。 It was added that
this excess of precaution had been rendered absolutely necessary
in consequence of a recent address from the Pope to the ruling
powers in Italy commenting on the scandalous frequency of the
practice of dueling； and urgently desiring that the laws against
duelists should be enforced for the future with the utmost rigor。
The third clause detailed the manner in which it had been
arranged that the duel should be fought。
The pistols having been loaded by the seconds on the ground； the
combatants were to be placed thirty paces apart； and were to toss
up for the first fire。 The man who won was to advance ten paces
marked out for him beforehandand was then to discharge his
pistol。 If he missed； or failed to disable his opponent； the
latter was free to advance； if he chose； the whole remaining
twenty paces before he fired in his turn。 This arrangement
insured the decisive termination of the duel at the first
discharge of the pistols； and both principals and seconds pledged
themselves on either side to abide by it。
The fourth clause stated that the seconds had agreed that the
duel should be fought out of the Neapolitan States； but left
themselves to be guided by circumstances as to the exact locality
in which it should take place。 The remaining clauses； so far as I
remember them； were devoted to detailing the different
precautions to be adopted for avoiding discovery。 The duelists
and their seconds were to leave Naples in separate parties； were
to change carriages several times； were to meet at a certain
town； or； failing that； at a certain post…house on the high road
from Naples to Rome； were to carry drawing…books； color boxes；
and camp…stools； as if they had been artists out on a
sketching…tour； and were to proceed to the place of the duel on
foot； employing no gui des； for fear of treachery。 Such general
arrangements as these； and others for facilitating the flight of
the survivors after the affair was over； formed the conclusion of
this extraordinary document； which was signed； in initials only；
by both the seconds。
Just below the initials appeared the beginning of a narrative；
dated 〃Paris；〃 and evidently intended to describe the duel itself
with extreme minuteness。 The hand…writing was that of the
deceased second。
Monsieur Foulon； tire gentleman in question； stated his belief
that circumstances might transpire which would render an account
by an eyewitness of the hostile meeting between St。 Lo and Mr。
Monkton an important document。 He proposed； therefore； as one of
the seconds； to testify that the duel had been fought in exact
accordance with the terms of the agreement； both the principals
conducting themselves like men of gallantry and honor （！）。 And he
further announced that； in order not to compromise any one； he
should place the paper containing his testimony in safe hands；
with strict directions that it was on no account to be opened
except in a case of the last emergency。
After thus preamble； Monsieur Foulon related that the duel had
been fought two days after the drawing up of the agreement； in a
locality to which accident had conducted the dueling party。 （The
name of the place was not mentioned； nor even the neighborhood in
which it was situated。） The men having been placed according to
previous arrangement； the Count St。 Lo had won the toss for the
first fire； had advanced his ten paces； and had shot his opponent
in the body。 Mr。 Monkton did not immediately fall； but staggered
forward some six or seven paces； discharged his pistol
ineffectually at the count； and dropped to the ground a dead man。
Monsieur Foulon then stated that he tore a leaf from his
pocketbook； wrote on it a brief description of the manner in
which Mr。 Monkton had died； and pinned the paper to his clothes；
this proceeding having been rendered necessary by the peculiar
nature of the plan organized on the spot for safely disposing of
the dead body。 What this plan was； or what was done with the
corpse； did not appear； for at this important point the narrative
abruptly broke off。
A foot…note in the newspaper merely stated the manner in which
the document had been obtained for publication； and repeated the
announcement contained in the editor's introductory remarks； that
no continuation had been found by the persons intrusted with the
care of Monsieur Foulon's papers。 I have now given the whole
substance of what I read； and have mentioned all that was then
known of Mr。 Stephen Monkton's death。
When I gave the newspaper back to Alfred he was too much agitated
to speak； but he reminded me by a sign that he was anxiously
waiting to hear what I had to say。 My position was a very trying
and a very painful one。 I could hardly tell what consequences
might not follow any want of caution on my part； and could think
at first of no safer plan than questioning him carefully before I
committed myself either one way or the other。
〃Will you excuse me if I ask you a question or two before I give
you my advice？〃 said I。
He nodded impatiently。
〃Yes； yesany questions you like。〃
〃Were you at any time in the habit of seeing your uncle
frequently？〃
〃I never saw him more than twice in my lifeon each occasion
when I was a mere child。〃
〃Then you could have had no very strong personal regard for him？〃
'Regard for him！ I should have been ashamed to feel any regard
for him。 He disgraced us wherever he went。〃
〃May I ask if any family motive is involved in your anxiety to
recover his remains？〃
〃Family motives may enter into it among othersbut why do you
ask？〃
〃Because； having heard that you employ the police to assist your
search； I was anxious to know whether you had stimulated their
superiors to make them do their best in your service by giving
some strong personal reasons at headquarters for the very unusual
project which has brought you here。〃
〃I give no reasons。 I pay for the work I want done； and； in
return for my liberality； I am treated with the most infamous
indifference on all sides。 A stranger in the country； and badly
acquainted with the language； I can do nothing to help myself。
The authorities； both at Rome and in this place； pretend to
assist me； pretend to search and inquire as I would have them
search and inquire； and do nothing more。 I am insulted； laughed
at； almost to