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envying another。 Your republics were haughty queens； preferring to
sell themselves rather than bow to a neighbor； they fell too low ever
to rise again。 The Guelphs are triumphant。〃
〃Do not pity us too much；〃 said the Duchess； in a voice that made the
two friends start。 〃We are still supreme。 Even in the depths of her
misfortune Italy governs through the choicer spirits that abound in
her cities。
〃Unfortunately the greater number of her geniuses learn to understand
life so quickly that they lie sunk in poverty…stricken pleasure。 As
for those who are willing to play the melancholy game for immortality；
they know how to get at your gold and to secure your praises。 Ay； in
this landpitied for its fallen state by traveled simpletons and
hypocritical poets； while its character is traduced by politiciansin
this land； which appears so languid； powerless； and ruinous； worn out
rather than old； there are puissant brains in every branch of life；
genius throwing out vigorous shoots as an old vine…stock throws out
canes productive of delicious fruit。 This race of ancient rulers still
gives birth to kingsLagrange； Volta； Rasori； Canova； Rossini；
Bartolini； Galvani； Vigano； Beccaria； Cicognara； Corvetto。 These
Italians are masters of the scientific peaks on which they stand； or
of the arts to which they devote themselves。 To say nothing of the
singers and executants who captivate Europe by their amazing
perfections： Taglioni； Paganini； and the rest。 Italy still rules the
world which will always come to worship her。
〃Go to Florian's to…night； you will find in Capraja one of our
cleverest men； but in love with obscurity。 No one but the Duke； my
master； understands music so thoroughly as he does； indeed he is known
here as /il Fanatico/。〃
After sitting a few minutes listening to the eager war of words
between the physician and the Duchess； who showed much ingenious
eloquence； the Italians； one by one； took leave； and went off to tell
the news in every box； that la Cataneo； who was regarded as a woman of
great wit and spirit； had； on the question of Italy； defeated a famous
French doctor。 This was the talk of the evening。
As soon as the Frenchman found himself alone with the Duchess and the
Prince； he understood that they were to be left together； and took
leave。 Massimilla bowed with a bend of the neck that placed him at
such a distance that this salute might have secured her the man's
hatred； if he could have ignored the charm of her eloquence and
beauty。
Thus at the end of the opera； Emilio and Massimilla were alone； and
holding hands they listened together to the duet that finishes /Il
Barbiere/。
〃There is nothing but music to express love；〃 said the Duchess； moved
by that song as of two rapturous nightingales。
A tear twinkled in Emilio's eye； Massimilla； sublime in such beauty as
beams in Raphael's Saint…Cecilia； pressed his hand； their knees
touched； there was； as it seemed； the blossom of a kiss on her lips。
The Prince saw on her blushing face a glow of joy like that which on a
summer's day shines down on the golden harvest； his heart seemed
bursting with the tide of blood that rushed to it。 He fancied that he
could hear an angelic chorus of voices； and he would have given his
life to feel the fire of passion which at this hour last night had
filled him for the odious Clarina； but he was at the moment hardly
conscious of having a body。
Massimilla； much distressed； ascribed this tear； in her guilelessness；
to the remark she had made as to Genovese's cavatina。
〃But； /carino/；〃 said she in Emilio's ear； 〃are not you as far better
than every expression of love； as cause is superior to effect？〃
After handing the Duchess to her gondola； Emilio waited for Vendramin
to go to Florian's。
The Cafe Florian at Venice is a quite undefinable institution。
Merchants transact their business there； and lawyers meet to talk over
their most difficult cases。 Florian's is at once an Exchange； a green…
room； a newspaper office； a club； a confessional；and it is so well
adapted to the needs of the place that some Venetian women never know
what their husband's business may be； for； if they have a letter to
write； they go to write it there。
Spies； of course； abound at Florian's； but their presence only
sharpens Venetian wits； which may here exercise the discretion once so
famous。 A great many persons spend the whole day at Florian's； in
fact； to some men Florian's is so much a matter of necessity； that
between the acts of an opera they leave the ladies in their boxes and
take a turn to hear what is going on there。
While the two friends were walking in the narrow streets of the
Merceria they did not speak； for there were too many people； but as
they turned into the Piazzi di San Marco； the Prince said：
〃Do not go at once to the cafe。 Let us walk about； I want to talk to
you。〃
He related his adventure with Clarina and explained his position。 To
Vendramin Emilio's despair seemed so nearly allied to madness that he
promised to cure him completely if only he would give him /carte
blanche/ to deal with Massimilla。 This ray of hope came just in time
to save Emilio from drowning himself that night； for； indeed； as he
remembered the singer； he felt a horrible wish to go back to her。
The two friends then went to an inner room at Florian's； where they
listened to the conversation of some of the superior men of the town；
who discoursed the subjects of the day。 The most interesting of these
were； in the first place； the eccentricities of Lord Byron； of whom
the Venetians made great sport； then Cataneo's attachment for la
Tinti； for which no reason could be assigned after twenty different
causes had been suggested； then Genovese's debut； finally； the tilting
match between the Duchess and the French doctor。 Just as the
discussion became vehemently musical； Duke Cataneo made his
appearance。 He bowed very courteously to Emilio； which seemed so
natural that no one noticed it； and Emilio bowed gravely in return。
Cataneo looked round to see if there was anybody he knew； recognized
Vendramin and greeted him； bowed to his banker； a rich patrician； and
finally to the man who happened to be speaking；a celebrated musical
fanatic； a friend of the Comtesse Albrizzi。 Like some others who
frequented Florian's； his mode of life was absolutely unknown； so
carefully did he conceal it。 Nothing was known about him but what he
chose to tell。
This was Capraja； the nobleman whom the Duchess had mentioned to the
French doctor。 This Venetian was one of a class of dreamers whose
powerful minds divine everything。 He was an eccentric theorist； and
cared no more for celebrity than for a broken pipe。
His life was in accordance with his ideas。 Capraja made his appearance
at about ten every morning under the /Procuratie/； without anyone
knowing whence he came。 He lounged about Venice； smoking cigars。 He
regularly went to the Fenice； sitting in the pit…stalls； and between
the acts went round to Florian's； where he took three or four cups of
coffee a day； and he ended the evening at the cafe； never leaving it
till about two in the morning。 Twelve hundred francs a ye