The Count grew slightly pale as he saw this gratification wrested from him.
"By-the-by, Signori," said Gaetano, "you have heard the news with which all the city and suburbs echo, and which makes almost as much noise as the trial of the Count Monte-Leone."
"I trust," said the Count, bitterly, "that the news is more pleasant."
"Infinitely more so," continued Gaetano. "Every one is talking of it, and crazed with it--especially myself, who am a _pazzo per la musica_, like the here of Fioravanti. You know, Signori, nothing is more pleasant than to win again a pleasure we fancy to have been lost to us."
"Go on," said Taddeo, who had a presentiment that something pleasant was about to be related. The very mention of music made him quiver.
"Well, Signori," said Gaetano, "the Sicilian siren, the fairy _La Felina_, sings to-night at San Carlo."
"La Felina?" said all the listeners at once.
"La Felina! impossible!" said Rovero. "She left Naples last night."
"Certainly she did," said Gaetano; "and that makes the matter more charming and pleasant. _La Felina_ has her caprices as all pretty women, and singers especially. That is the condition and very qualification of talent. A _prima donna_ who did not keep the public uneasy about her health, her business, or her amours, one who did not outrage the manager, would not be a complete woman. How could she? One does not earn a hundred thousand francs a year for acting as if the salary was only a thousand crowns. It would be vulgar and common and altogether unbecoming a fine lady. La Felina, therefore, annoyed by the effect produced on the public mind by the drama of the Trial of Count Monte-Leone, which occupied the attention she thought should be engrossed by her own performances, would not appear while the trial was going on. She was about to throw up her engagement, and actually did so, when she was at the Porta-Capuana. The patrons of the opera, with the empresario at their head, accompanied by the orchestra and troupe, not wanting an enormous crowd of other admirers of _la Diva_, and they are many, prevented the carriage from passing. She was surrounded, pressed, and besought to such a degree that she was dragged back to her hotel, and promised to sing once more in the Griselda of the _Maestro Paër_, the best of all her characters. You can fancy the enthusiasm thus excited, and how all struggle to secure seats. I paid for mine thrice the usual price, and think I am very fortunate."