Volume I Part 27 (1/2)
Without hesitating, the negro laid the sum of 3,000 lire in bank-notes on theand put the tickets in his pocket Thereupon he drew his are
”I do not understand,” stae?”
”Yes”
”Then follow me”
Salvani walked down a shted stage The Nubian walked in front of the prompter's box and pointed so expressively toward the parterre and the parquet, that the impresario at once knehat he wanted
”You want to buy the rest of the seats unsold?” he hastily asked
”Yes”
”The places cost originally five, four and three lire”
”Yes”
”Well, I would be a fool if I did not take a hand in”
Before the Nubian had departed, he had purchased all of the seats still to be had, for the round suh the streets
When Ticellini appeared, Salvani triumphantly pointed to the pile of bank-notes, and when the ht it must be a trick of one of his rivals to ruin him, the impresario coolly said:
”Ticellini, would you be able to raise 6,000 lire to annihilate Gioberto and Palic convinced hinificent
For the first time since the Austrian occupation, all the aristocratic ladies appeared in full dress Salvani, as well as the ly at the audience Very soon, however, their wonder changed to curiosity, for the toilets of the ladies were arranged in a peculiar way Soreen leaves in their hair; others wore red satin, with red roses, and others again white satin and white flowers; and then the ladies were grouped together in such a way that the tricolor green, white and red always appeared Ticellini was a patriot from head to foot, and his heart beat loudly when he saw the Italian tricolor
What could it all mean? A revolution? That would destroy all chances of the success of his opera, but Ticellini did not think of himself, when the fatherland was in question, and he enthusiastically hummed the first lines of the national hymn:
_”Chi per la patria muore_ _Vessuto ha assai!”_
(He who has died for his country has lived long enough)
The parquet and balcony were filled with students, and only one prosceniuh the theatre; the door of the proscenium box was opened and three persons entered it
A tall, majestic man, whose dark locks inclosed a pale face, led a lady of extraordinary beauty He was dressed in a frock suit, the lady in purple silk, with a white sash A diade emeralds ornamented the finely shaped head, and on her neck and arms diamonds of the purest water shone
A reht or nine years, took a seat between the lady and gentleman, and it only needed a casual look upon the features of the youth to recognize him as the son of the pair
The box just opposite to them was Radetzky's, and was occupied by his adjutant Observant of everything which looked like a lances at the color constellation, and the confidant of Radetzky immediately sent for Salvani