NOBLEMEN’S QUARREL.

An incident, with a duel as a probable sequel, between two Roman noblemen – Count Filippo Lovatelli and the Duke of Marino Torlonia – is causing universal comment in Rome. It forms an agreeable diversion from politics, and threatens to throw even the Ministerial crisis into the shade. The Press has eagerly seized upon it, and the affair is mixed up with the questions of art and etiquette, talent and chivalry, and touches American society as well as the Roman nobility. The incident arose in the following manner: A ball in aid of the Anglo-american Clinic was presided over by the wife of the American Ambassador, Mrs. Washburn Child. The ball organised by Mrs. Washburn Child, at the Grand Hotel, attracted the highest Roman society, being attended by the Princesses Odescalchi, Castagneto, Pahano, and Gerace, the Duchesses Sforza, Cesarini, Terranova, Torlonia, and numerous others, with their husbands. In the midst of the brilliant gathering a scene occurred. Count Filippo Lovatelli and the Duke of Marino Torlonia happened to meet. There was a question between them of some months’ standing. Count Lovatelli is a sculptor and painter of high and recognised talent, and his studio is one of the most frequented by Roman society. The Duke of Marino Torlonia, as is well known, is not only the possessor of one of the largest Roman estates, with lands spreading all over the Campagna and far into the Abbruzzi, but is also married to a wealthy American lady, who was Miss Elsie Moore. The difference as regards worldly fortune between the wealthy duke and the talented artist Count is, as might well be expected, considerable. Some three months ago Count Lovatelli executed a bas-relief in marble of the Duchess of Torlonia. It was generally admired as a very successful portraiture of the handsome duchess, but somehow it did not meet with the entire approval of the duke. A dispute arose between the duke and the artist, of which it is impossible to give the exact details, each side naturally having its own views. The count thought that the duke might at least defray the cost of the marble and of the material and labour to which the artist had been put. The duke, whether in irony or for some other reason, simply sent him a short letter, with a note for 1,000 lire, enclosed in an envelope. The artist, it is alleged, burning under the insult, hung the letter and the envelope, with its contents, on the neck of the statue in his atelier, where it might have been seen by any of his numerous friends when visiting him. Of course the incident was certain not to end there. When Count Filippo saw Don Marino at the ball he could no longer control his irritated feelings, which, as an artist, were quite comprehensible. He tapped the duke on the shoulder, and said he wanted to speak to him. It is not known exactly what happened next. Anyhow, in an instant, both men were engaged in a violent conflict, and Count Filippo slapped Don Marino in the face. The Marchesa Guglielmi, who is known as a powerful and athletic woman, intervened, and twice separated the antagonists. The duke is 60 years of age, and Count Filippo is much younger. They have now challenged each other to a duel, the duke, despite his age, having decided to fight it out with the sword.