Agostino, pursued by his terror of anticlimax, ran from the sight of Vittoria when she was called, after the fall of the curtain.  He made his way to Rocco Ricci (who had given his bow to the public from his perch), and found the maestro drinking Asti to counteract his natural excitement.  Rocco told Agostino, that up to the last moment, neither he nor any soul behind the scenes knew Vittoria would be able to appear, except that she had sent a note to him with a pledge to be in readiness for the call.  Irma had come flying in late, enraged, and in disorder, praying to take Camilla’s part; but Montini refused to act with the seconda donna as prima donna.  They had commenced the opera in uncertainty whether it could go on beyond the situation where Camilla presents herself.  ’I was prepared to throw up my baton,’ said Rocco, ’and publicly to charge the Government with the rape of our prima donna.  Irma I was ready to replace.  I could have filled that gap.’  He spoke of Vittoria’s triumph.  Agostino’s face darkened.  ‘Ha!’ said he, ’provided we don’t fall flat, like your Asti with the cork out.  I should have preferred an enthusiasm a trifle more progressive.  The notion of travelling backwards is upon me forcibly, after that tempest of acclamation.’

‘Or do you think that you have put your best poetry in the first Act?’ Rocco suggested with malice.

‘Not a bit of it!’ Agostino repudiated the idea very angrily, and puffed and puffed.  Yet he said, ’I should not be lamenting if the opera were stopped at once.’

‘No!’ cried Rocco; ’let us have our one night.  I bargain for that.  Medole has played us false, but we go on.  We are victims already, my Agostino.’

‘But I do stipulate,’ said Agostino, ’that my jewel is not to melt herself in the cup to-night.  I must see her.  As it is, she is inevitably down in the list for a week’s or a month’s incarceration.’

Antonio-Pericles had this, in his case, singular piece of delicacy, that he refrained from the attempt to see Vittoria immediately after he had flung his magnificent bouquet of treasure at her feet.  In his intoxication with the success which he had foreseen and cradled to its apogee, he was now reckless of any consequences.  He felt ready to take patriotic Italy in his arms, provided that it would succeed as Vittoria had done, and on the spot.  Her singing of the severe phrases of the opening chant, or hymn, had turned the man, and for a time had put a new heart in him.  The consolation was his also, that he had rewarded it the most splendidly—­as it were, in golden italics of praise; so that her forgiveness of his disinterested endeavour to transplant her was certain, and perhaps her future implicit obedience or allegiance bought.  Meeting General Pierson, the latter rallied him.

’Why, my fine Pericles, your scheme to get this girl out of the way was capitally concerted.  My only fear is that on another occasion the Government will take another view of it and you.’