I.Two Venetian artists，Daru and Priuli，had been rivals in youth，but Priuli had soon shown such great ability that the other was left far behind.For this，Daru could never forgive him；he felt the bitterest jealousy of his rival，and even a thirst for vengeance againsthim.Outwardly，however，Darn professeda warmfriendship for Priuli，which the latter believed to besincere .
2.A French noble，residing in Venice，had engaged Priuli to paint him a picture，which the artist had finished and taken to his house.At this time war was suddenly declared between Venice and France，and the nobleman found himself forced to set out for France，and unable to obtain money to pay for the picture.Priuli urged him to take the picture with him，and to send the price of it at some future time.He did so，and in due time the money was given to the artist bya Venetian Jewnoble in Milan.
3.Daru had been long waiting for a chance to ruin his great rival.He knew all about this transaction，and he saw that out of it he could make a serious charge against Priuli.So he sent secret information to the rulers of the city that Priuli had received money from a foreign prince with whom Venice was at war.Daru thought that this would bring certain ruin upon Priuli，for on charges of this sort some of the highest nobles in Venice had been arrested and tried.
4.Priuli was arrested and brought before thecouncil.His explanation was frankand simple.Hetold the whole story，showing that he had received no money from a foreign prince，but merely payment of a debt from a private person.Had Priuli been a powerful noble，with powerful enemies，his story would not have been so readily believed.But Priuli had no powerful enemies，and the Venetians were always tender to artists；and so he was found not guilty.At the same time，it was not the custom of the Venetian council to set any prisoner free too quickly.
5.Priuli was therefore sent back to prison；but he was placed in a comfortable room，where he could obtain everything he desired.Being in want of a picturefor the Palace，the council gave him a commissio.topaint for them a scene from Venetian history.In the meantime，they had been making inquiries，and they had now discovered who it was that had made the charge against Priuli.
6.Daru meanwhile was rejoicing in his vengeance.The fall of Priuli would make him-Daru-the first artist in Venice.Full of confidence，therefore，he asked from the council a commission for that very work which，unknown to him，had already been entrusted to Priuli.The request was granted，but on condition thatthe council should judge between his work and that of another artist whose services had already been engaged.
7.Daru‘s picture was finished.Some of the council came to see it，and gave it much praise.They told him that the other picture had also been completed，and was now in the Palace，where they invited him to go and see it.Daru went with them，wondering how the other picture was already at the Palace.Had the council chosen it before even seeing his work？
8.In a large upper room of the Palace a brilliantcompany was assembled，among them the Doge himself.But in that company Daru saw one form which made him blind to all the rest.Forgetting the respectdue to the augustcompany，he stood still and staredupon the face of that man whom for months he had thought of as lying in a dreary prison.
9.“We gave you a commission，signor，”said the Doge；“but we had previously given it to another withwhom you were to compete.We honour our friendPriuli so much that we invited him to our Palace to do his work undisturbed.His work is finished.It is here.Come and see whether you think that yours is equal to his.”
10.“This，”continued the Doge，“is an admirablepicture，a masterpiece，which shall adorn our walls.
As for your work，you shall be rewarded-for all that you have done.”There was a terrible meaning in these words.As the Doge ended，he made a sign to the attendants，and they led Daru away.
Priuli was restored to liberty in a few days；but Daru，having been kept in prison for about a year，left Venice，and never came back.