JEROME CARDAN 89 



other times when his wits were pitted for contest with 

 those of other men. It has been advanced to his dis- 

 paragement that he walked in deceitful ways from the 

 very beginning ; that he dangled before Tartaglia's eyes 

 the prospect of gain and preferment simply for the 

 purpose of enticing him to Milan, where he deemed he 

 might use more efficaciously his arguments for the ac- 

 complishment of the purpose which was really in his 

 mind ; that he had no intention of advancing Tartaglia's 

 fortunes when he suggested the introduction to D'Avalos, 

 but that the Governor of Milan was brought into the 

 business merely that he might be used as a potent ally 

 in the attack upon Tartaglia's obstinate silence. Whether 

 this may have been his line of action or not, the issue 

 shows that he was fully able to fight his battle alone, 

 and that his powers of persuasion and hard swearing 

 were adequate when occasion arose for their exercise. 

 It is quite possible that Tartaglia, when he began to 

 reflect over what he had done by writing out and hand- 

 ing over to Cardan his mnemonic rhymes, fell into an 

 access of suspicious anger at Cardan for his wheedling 

 persistency, and at himself for yielding thereto and 

 packed himself off in a rage with the determination to 

 have done with Messer Hieronimo and all his works. 

 Certainly his carriage towards Cardan in the weeks 

 ensuing, as exhibited in his correspondence, does not 

 picture him in an amiable temper. On April 9 Jerome 

 wrote to him in a very friendly strain, expressing regret 

 that his guest should have left Milan without seeing 

 D'Avalos, and fear lest he might have prejudiced his 

 fortunes by taking such a step. He then goes on to 

 describe to Tartaglia the progress he is making in his 

 work with the Practice of Arithmetic, and to ask him 

 for help in solving one of the cases in Algebra, the rule 



