icit love, and to prolong the heavenly joys of this blissful day.
Happy to be alone to receive the applause of the house, the tenor
did his best with the powers which have since achieved European fame.
Genovese, then but three-and-twenty, born at Bergamo, a pupil of
Veluti's and devoted to his art, a fine man, good-looking, clever in
apprehending the spirit of a part, was already developing into the
great artist destined to win fame and fortune. He had a wild success,--a
phrase which is literally exact only in Italy, where the applause of the
house is absolutely frenzied when a singer procures it enjoyment.

Some of the Prince's friends came to congratulate him on coming into his
title, and to discuss the news. Only last evening la Tinti, taken by the
Duke to the Vulpatos', had sung there, apparently in health as sound
as her voice was fine; hence her sudden disposition gave rise to
much comment. It was rumored at the Cafe Florian that Genovese was
desperately in love with Clarina; that she was only anxious to avoid his
declarations, and that the manager had tried in vain to induce her to
appear with him. The Austrian General, on the other hand, asserted that
it was the Duke who was ill, that the prima donna was nursing him, and
that Genovese had been commanded to make amends to the public.

The Duchess owed this visit from the Austrian General to the fact that a
French physician had come to Venice whom the General wished to introduce
to her. The Prince, seeing Vendramin wandering about the _parterre_,
went out for a few minutes of confidential talk with his friend, whom
he had not seen for three months; and as they walked round the gangway
which divides the seats in the pit from the lowest tier of boxes, he had
an opportunity of observing Massimilla's reception of the foreigner.

"Who is that Frenchman?" asked the Prince.

"A physician sent for by Cataneo, who wants to know how long he is
likely to live," said Vendramin. "The Frenchman is waiting for Malfatti,
with whom he is to hold a consultation."

Like every Italian woman who is in love, the Duchess kept her eyes fixed
on Emilio; for in that land a woman is so wholly wrapped up in her lover
that it is difficult to detect an expressive glance directed at anybody
else.

"Caro," said the Prince to his friend, "remember I slept at your house
last night."

"Have you triumphed?" said Vendramin, putting his arm round Emilio's
waist.

"No; but I hope I may some da