Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/277

 Pasquale was much pleased by the particular attention of which he was the object; his red eyes glanced from side to side with radiant pride; and his satisfaction was boundless, when, after a minute inspection of every part of the room, he saw that all the seats near that of Marianna were occupied by women. An orchestra composed of five or six violins and a base, was hidden behind the ragged tapestry which formed the decoration of the stage. Master Capuzzi trembled with hope, whilst listening to hear the unknown artists torment their instruments into an accord; when, after waiting an hour, a formidable flourish of the bow announced that the performances were about to commence, the whole of his aged frame was seized with a galvanic trembling.

Signor Formica first appeared on the stage, dressed like Pasquale. As soon as he opened his mouth, Capuzzi rubbed his eyes to assure himself that he was not dreaming. The actor copied with sorrowful exactitude the features and the figure, without excepting one single ridiculous point, of the inhabitant of Ripetta street, so well known in the city, that an unavoidable homeric laugh resounded through the house. They rolled upon the seats in a delirium; uttering deafening shouts. Unfortunately, the object of this boisterous hilarity, far from prudently escaping, took this parade for a delicate attention from his friend Nicolo. He found his representative enchanting, adorable; he listened to Formica's singing with transports of pleasure difficult to describe.

Silence and calm were restored when the false Pasquale had finished his opening air; and doctor Graziano was seen to come from behind the screens, whose part, for this once, Nicolo himself had assumed. This personage approached, stopping his ears and making a despairing grimace.

"Rogue," cried he to Capuzzi's valet, "will you ever stop your bellowing?"

"Softly, my master," replied Pasquarello, "I see that you are no better than the rest of the inhabitants of my quarter, hard heads, who understand nothing in melody, and