gostino's libretto.

On the other hand, Irma fell into all his traps, and painted her Austrian
heart with a prodigal waste of colour and frank energy:

'Now Leonardo is my tool:
Camilla is my slave:
And she I hate goes forth to cool
Her rage beyond the wave.
Joy! joy!
Paid am I in full coin for my caressing;
I take, but give nought, ere the priestly blessing.'

A subtle distinction. She insists upon her reverence for the priestly
(papistical) blessing, while she confides her determination to have it
dispensed with in Camilla's case. Irma's known sympathies with the
Austrian uniform seasoned the ludicrousness of many of the double-edged
verses which she sang or declaimed in recitative. The irony of applauding
her vehemently was irresistible.

Camilla is charged with conspiracy, and proved guilty by her own
admission.

The Act ends with the entry of Count Orso and his force; conspirators
overawed; Camilla repudiated; Count Orso imperially just; Leonardo
chagrined; Camillo pardoned; Michiella triumphant. Camillo sacrifices his
wife for safety. He holds her estates; and therefore Count Orso, whose
respect for law causes him to have a keen eye for matrimonial alliances,
is now paternally willing, and even anxious to bestow Michiella upon him
when the Pontifical divorce can be obtained; so that the long-coveted
fruitful acres may be in the family. The chorus sings a song of praise to
Hymen, the 'builder of great Houses.' Camilla goes forth into exile. The
word was not spoken, but the mention of 'bread of strangers, strange
faces, cold climes,' said sufficient.

'It is a question whether we ought to sit still and see a firebrand
flashed in our faces,' General Pierson remarked as the curtain fell. He
was talking to Major de Pyrmont outside the Duchess of Graatli's box. Two
General officers joined them, and presently Count Serabiglione, with his
courtly semi-ironical smile, on whom they straightway turned their backs.
The insult was happily unseen, and the count caressed his shaven chin and
smiled himself onward. The point for the officers to decide was, whether
they dared offend an enthusiastic house--the fiery core of the population
of Milan--by putting a stop to the opera before worse should come.

Their own views were entirely military; but they were paralyzed by the
recent pseudo-liberalistic despatches from Vienna; and agreed, with some
malice in