"I have brought you one," said Cellini, stepping back, and throwing down the sword he held in his left hand at Pagolo's feet. Pagolo looked at the sword, but made no movement. "Come," said Cellini, "pick up the sword and stand up yourself. I am waiting." "A duel?" muttered the apprentice, whose teeth were chattering with terror; "am I able to fight a duel on equal terms with you?" "Very well," said Cellini, passing his weapon from one hand to the other, "I will fight with my left hand, and that will make us equal." "I fight with you, my benefactor?--you, to whom I owe everything? Never! never!" A smile of profound contempt overspread Benvenuto's face, while Scozzone recoiled without seeking to conceal the disgust which showed itself in her expression. "You should have remembered my benefactions before stealing from me the woman I intrusted to your honor and Ascanio's," said Benvenuto. "Your memory has come back to you too late. On guard, Pagolo! on guard!" "No! no!" murmured the coward, falling back upon his knees. "As you refuse to fight like an honest man," said Benvenuto, "I propose to punish you as a scoundrel." He replaced his sword in its sheath, drew his dagger, and walked slowly toward the apprentice without the slightest indication either of anger or compassion upon his impassive features. Scozzone rushed between them with a shriek; but Benvenuto, without violence, with a motion of his arm as irresistible as that of a bronze statue endowed with life, put her aside, and the poor girl fell back half dead upon her chair. Benvenuto walked on toward Pagolo, who receded as far as the wall. There the master overtook him, and said, putting his dagger to his throat,-- "Commend your soul to God: you have five minutes to live." "Mercy!" cried Pagolo in an inarticulate voice; "do not kill me! mercy! mercy!" "What!" said Cellini, "you know me, and, knowing me, seduced the woman who belonged to me. I know all, I have discovered everything, and you hope that I will spare you! You are laughing at me, Pagolo, you are laughing at me." Benvenuto himself laughed aloud as he spoke; but it was a strident, terrible laugh, which made the apprentice shudder to his marrow. "Master! master!" cried Pagolo, as he felt the point of the dagger pricking his throat; "it was she, not I: yes, she led me into it." "Treachery, cowardice, and slander! I will make a group of those three monsters some day," said Benvenuto, "and it will be a hideous thing to see. She led you into it, you reptile! Do you forget that I was here and heard all that you said?" "O Benvenuto," murmured Catherine, "you know that he lies when he says that, do you not?" "Yes, yes," said Benvenuto, "I know that he lies when he says that, as he lied when he said that he was ready to marry you; but never fear, he shall be punished for the double lie." "Yes, punish me," cried Pagolo, "but be merciful: punish me, but do not kill me." "You lied when you said that she led you into it?"