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coffee a day； and he ended the evening at the cafe； never leaving it
till about two in the morning。 Twelve hundred francs a year paid all
his expenses； he ate but one meal a day at an eating…house in the
Merceria； where the cook had his dinner ready for him at a fixed hour；
on a little table at the back of the shop； the pastry…cook's daughter
herself prepared his stuffed oysters； provided him with cigars； and
took care of his money。 By his advice； this girl； though she was very
handsome； would never countenance a lover； lived very steadily； and
still wore the old Venetian costume。 This purely…bred Venetian girl
was twelve years old when Capraja first took an interest in her； and
six…and…twenty when he died。 She was very fond of him； though he had
never even kissed her hand or her brow； and she knew nothing whatever
of the poor old nobleman's intentions with regard to her。 The girl had
at last as complete control of the old gentleman as a mother has of
her child； she would tell him when he wanted clean linen； next day he
would come without a shirt； and she would give him a clean one to put
on in the morning。
He never looked at a woman either in the theatre or out walking。
Though he was the descendant of an old patrician family he never
thought his rank worth mentioning。 But at night； after twelve； he
awoke from his apathy； talked； and showed that he had seen and heard
everything。 This peaceful Diogenes； quite incapable of explaining his
tenets； half a Turk； half a Venetian； was thick…set； short； and fat；
he had a Doge's sharp nose； an inquisitive； satirical eye； and a
discreet though smiling mouth。
When he died； it became known that he had lived in a little den near
San Benedetto。 He had two million francs invested in the funds of
various countries of Europe； and had left the interest untouched ever
since he had first bought the securities in 1814； so the sum was now
enormous； alike from the increased value of the capital and the
accumulated interest。 All this money was left to the pastry…cook's
daughter。
〃Genovese；〃 he was saying； 〃will do wonders。 Whether he really
understands the great end of music； or acts only on instinct； I know
not； but he is the first singer who ever satisfied me。 I shall not die
without hearing a /cadenza/ executed as I have heard them in my
dreams； waking with a feeling as though the sounds were floating in
the air。 The clear /cadenza/ is the highest achievement of art； it is
the arabesque； decorating the finest room in the house； a shade too
little and it is nothing； a touch too much and all is confusion。 Its
task is to awake in the soul a thousand dormant ideas； it flies up and
sweeps through space； scattering seeds in the air to be taken in by
our ears and blossom in our heart。 Believe me； in painting his Saint…
Cecilia； Raphael gave the preference to music over poetry。 And he was
right； music appeals to the heart； whereas writing is addressed to the
intellect； it communicates ideas directly； like a perfume。 The
singer's voice impinges not on the mind； not on the memory of
happiness； but on the first principle of thought； it stirs the
elements of sensation。
〃It is a grievous thing that the populace should have compelled
musicians to adapt their expression to words； to factitious emotions；
but then they were not otherwise intelligible to the vulgar。 Thus the
/cadenza/ is the only thing left to the lovers of pure music； the
devotees of unfettered art。 To…night； as I listened to that last
/cavatina/； I felt as if I were beckoned by a fair creature whose look
alone had made me young again。 The enchantress placed a crown on my
brow； and led me to the ivory door through which we pass to the
mysterious land of day…dreams。 I owe it to Genovese that I escaped for
a few minutes from this old huskminutes； short no doubt by the
clock； but very long by the record of sensation。 For a brief spring…
time； scented with roses； I was young againand beloved！〃
〃But you are mistaken； /caro/ Capraja；〃 said the Duke。 〃There is in
music an effect yet more magical than that of the /cadenza/。〃
〃What is that？〃 asked Capraja。
〃The unison of two voices； or of a voice and a violin；the instrument
which has tones most nearly resembling those of the human voice；〃
replied Cataneo。 〃This perfect concord bears us on to the very heart
of life； on the tide of elements which can resuscitate rapture and
carry man up to the centre of the luminous sphere where his mind can
command the whole universe。 You still need a /thema/； Capraja； but the
pure element is enough for me。 You need that the current should flow
through the myriad canals of the machine to fall in dazzling cascades；
while I am content with the pure tranquil pool。 My eye gazes across a
lake without a ripple。 I can embrace the infinite。〃
〃Speak no more； Cataneo；〃 said Capraja； haughtily。 〃What！ Do you fail
to see the fairy； who； in her swift rush through the sparkling
atmosphere； collects and binds with the golden thread of harmony； the
gems of melody she smilingly sheds on us？ Have you ever felt the touch
of her wand； as she says to Curiosity； 'Awake！' The divinity rises up
radiant from the depths of the brain； she flies to her store of
wonders and fingers them lightly as an organist touches the keys。
Suddenly； up starts Memory； bringing us the roses of the past；
divinely preserved and still fresh。 The mistress of our youth revives；
and strokes the young man's hair。 Our heart； too full； overflows； we
see the flowery banks of the torrent of love。 Every burning bush we
ever knew blazes afresh； and repeats the heavenly words we once heard
and understood。 The voice rolls on； it embraces in its rapid turns
those fugitive horizons； and they shrink away； they vanish； eclipsed
by newer and deeper joysthose of an unrevealed future； to which the
fairy points as she returns to the blue heaven。〃
〃And you；〃 retorted Cataneo； 〃have you never seen the direct ray of a
star opening the vistas above； have you never mounted on that beam
which guides you to the sky； to the heart of the first causes which
move the worlds？〃
To their hearers； the Duke and Capraja were playing a game of which
the premises were unknown。
〃Genovese's voice thrills through every fibre；〃 said Capraja。
〃And la Tinti's fires the blood；〃 replied the Duke。
〃What a paraphrase of happy love is that /cavatina/！〃 Capraja went on。
〃Ah！ Rossini was young when he wrote that interpretation of
effervescent ecstasy。 My heart filled with renewed blood； a thousand
cravings tingled in my veins。 Never have sounds more angelic delivered
me more completely from my earthly bonds！ Never did the fairy wave
more beautiful arms； smile more invitingly； lift her tunic more
cunningly to display an ankle； raising the curtain that hides my other
life！〃
〃To…morrow； my old friend；〃 replied Cataneo； 〃you shall ride on the
back of a dazzling； white swan； who will show you the loveliest land
there is； you shall see the spring…time as children see it。 Your heart
shall open to the radiance of a new sun； you shall sleep on crimson
silk； under the gaze of a Madonna； you shall feel like a happy lover
gently kissed by a nymph whos