fortunate speculation, and hastened to engage his prize for a year
at one third her real value, as the next day proved when notes came
flocking in from all directions, urging her to name her own price.
With a feeling of deep indignation Teresa Zampieri determined after
her engagement with Cartillos expired, that he should never
acquire another farthing by her. She speedily became the pet of the
people, yet notwithstanding her surprising good fortune, nothing had
the power to charm her out of the subdued manner so unnatural in one
so young, or throw a lightsome sparkle into those large, dark,
melancholy eyes, while almost the first exclamation made by every
one on hearing her sing, was, "Her voice sounds like a fountain of
tears!" The only thing that absorbed and rendered her forgetful of
the present, was her music, and when in the opera, her whole being
seemed merged into the character she was representing. Her large,
sad eyes grew still larger and sadder, and she seemed like one in a
dream-it was with her a passion, an existence.

But she was subject to many annoyances from Cartillos, who
constantly took advantage of her ignorance concerning money matters,
which Florian Geraldi, the handsome tenor of the troupe, plainly
perceived and with burning indignation. He would have protected her
and prevented these impositions, but they were both young, and he
feared his motives might be misunderstood, and so he continued from
day to day, each showing him plainer that his heart was given to the
beautiful songstress, whose course had been so like a comet, rising
from darkness, and no one knew whither, for all felt instinctively
that a mystery hung over the young girl.-At last some fresh act of
injustice on the part of Cartillos thoroughly aroused Geraldi, who,
at the risk of losing his situation, determined to tell Teresa how
much she was imposed upon. The mournful tone and manner with which