In that country, love is so much a matter of course that the Duchess was regarded as a wonder; for, in spite of her violent attachment to Emilio, everybody was confident of her immaculate purity. And women gave their sincere pity to the poor young man, who was regarded as a victim to the virtue of his lady-love. At the same time, no one cared to blame the Duchess, for in Italy religion is a power as much respected as love. Evening after evening Massimilla’s box was the first object of every opera-glass, and each woman would say to her lover, as she studied the Duchess and her adorer: “How far have they got?” The lover would examine Emilio, seeking some evidence of success; would find no expression but that of a pure and dejected passion. And throughout the house, as they visited from box to box, the men would say to the ladies: “La Cataneo is not yet Emilio’s.” “She is unwise,” said the old women. “She will tire him out.” “_Forse!_” (Perhaps) the young wives would reply, with the solemn accent that Italians can infuse into that great word--the answer to many questions here below. Some women were indignant, thought the whole thing ill-judged, and declared that it was a misapprehension of religion to allow it to smother love. “My dear, love that poor Emilio,” said the Signora Vulpato to Massimilla, as they met on the stairs in going out. “I do love him with all my might,” replied the Duchess. “Then why does not he look happy?” Massimilla’s reply was a little shrug of her shoulders. We in France--France as the growing mania for English proprieties has made it--can form no idea of the serious interest taken in this affair by Venetian society. Vendramini alone knew Emilio’s secret, which was carefully kept between two men who had, for private pleasure, combined their coats of arms with the motto _Non amici, frates_. The opening night of the opera season is an event at Venice, as in every capital in Italy. The _Fenice_ was crowded. The five hours of the night that are spent at the theatre fill so important a place in Italian life that it is well to give an account of the customs that have risen from this manner of spending time.