Transcriber's Note:
1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA284&id=e94BAAAAQAAJ#v
The curtain fell amid thunders of applause from the whole house. Boxes,pit, and gallery unanimously demanded the reappearance of the singer,who, in the finale of the act just concluded, had carried all away withher. The whole audience became excited, and would not be calmed, until,greeted with applause, which broke forth with renewed vigour,overwhelmed with flowers, wreaths, and homage of all kinds, the objectof this ovation showed herself, in order to thank the public.
"This is quite like an evening in an Italian theatre," said an elderlygentleman, entering one of the boxes in the first tier. "SignoraBiancona seems to understand the art of filling the otherwise quiet andsmoothly-flowing patrician blood of our noble Hanseatic town with thefire of her Southern home. The infatuation for her begins to be quitean epidemic. If it continue to increase in this way, we shall see theExchange voting her a torchlight procession, and the Senate of thisfree town, appearing before her in corpore, to lay their homage ather feet. Were I in your place, Herr Consul, I should make thisproposition to both these Corporations. I am sure it would meet with anenthusiastic reception."
The gentleman to whom these words were addressed, and who was sittingby a lady, apparently his wife, in the front of the box, seemed unableto withdraw himself from the universal excitement. He had applaudedwith an energy and perseverance worthy of a better cause, and turnedround now, half-laughing, half-annoyed.
"I was sure of it; the critic must place himself in opposition to thegeneral voice. Certainly, Herr Doctor, in your abominable morningpaper, you spare neither Exchange nor Senate; how, then, could SignoraBiancona hope to find mercy?"
The Doctor smiled a little maliciously, and drew near to the lady'schair, when a young man, who had been sitting beside her, rose politelyto make way for him.
"Herr Almbach," said the lady, introducing them, "Herr Dr. Welding, theeditor of our morning paper, whose pen--"
"For Heaven's sake, my dear madam," interrupted Welding, "do not throwdiscredit on me, at once, in the gentleman's eyes. One has only to beintroduced as critic to a young artist, and immediately one gains hisdeepest antipathy."
"Possibly," laughed the Consul, "but this time your keenness has failedyou. Herr Almbach, thank goodness, can never be in a position to comebefore your judgment seat. He is a merchant."
"Merchant!" a look of astonishment was turned towards the young man,"then I certainly apologise for my