of the Carnival! How divinely she sang that night! If Bellini could
have heard her, it would have been the happiest day of his life."

"I am glad that you were contented, Signor Ercole."

"Contented! The whole city was enraptured. There never was such a
success. You have got that little memorandum of articles--?"

"No. I've got the paper signed at Milan; but not--"

"Stay, let me see. True, true. I remember now. It remained with the
Marchese. We shall want it, you know, just to put all in order. We
can call at the Palazzo Castelmare on our way, and ask the Marchese
for it?"

"Will he be up at this hour, after last night's ball?" asked Quinto.

"He? The Marchese? One sees you are a stranger in Ravenna, my dear
sir. I don't suppose the Marchese has ever been in bed after eight
o'clock the last quarter of a century. He is an early man, the
Marchese,--an example to us all in that, as in all else."

"Very well; then we can call for the paper on our way to my lodging;
it is not much out of the way."

So they walked together to the Palazzo Castelmare, talking of the
brilliant success of the past theatrical season, and of the eminent
qualities and virtues of the Marchese Lamberto; and when they
reached the door the impresario desired the servant who answered the
bell to tell the Marchese that he, Signor Ercole, wished to speak