Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books. Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA284&id=e94BAAAAQAAJ#v 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. RIVEN BONDS. A Novel, IN TWO VOLUMES. TRANSLATED BY BERTHA NESS, _FROM THE ORIGINAL OF E. WERNER_, Author of "SUCCESS AND HOW HE WON IT," "UNDER A CHARM," &c. * * * * * VOL. I. * * * * * London: REMINGTON AND CO., 5, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C. 1877. [_All Rights Reserved_.] RIVEN BONDS. CHAPTER I. The curtain fell amid thunders of applause from the whole house. Boxes, pit, and gallery unanimously demanded the reappearance of the singer, who, in the finale of the act just concluded, had carried all away with her. The whole audience became excited, and would not be calmed, until, greeted with applause, which broke forth with renewed vigour, overwhelmed with flowers, wreaths, and homage of all kinds, the object of this ovation showed herself, in order to thank the public. "This is quite like an evening in an Italian theatre," said an elderly gentleman, entering one of the boxes in the first tier. "Signora Biancona seems to understand the art of filling the otherwise quiet and smoothly-flowing patrician blood of our noble Hanseatic town with the fire of her Southern home. The infatuation for her begins to be quite an epidemic. If it continue to increase in this way, we shall see the Exchange voting her a torchlight procession, and the Senate of this free town, appearing before her _in corpore_, to lay their homage at her feet. Were I in your place, Herr Consul, I should make this proposition to both these Corporations. I am sure it would meet with an enthusiastic reception." The gentleman to whom these words were addressed, and who was sitting by a lady, apparently his wife, in the front of the box, seemed unable to withdraw himself from the universal excitement. He had applauded with an energy and perseverance worthy of a better cause, and turned round now, half-laughing, half-annoyed. "I was sure of it; the critic must place himself in opposition to the general voice. Certainly, Herr Doctor, in your abominable morning paper, you spare neither Exchange nor Senate; how, then, could Signora Biancona hope to find mercy?" The Doctor smiled a little maliciously, and drew near to the lady's chair, when a young man, who had been sitting beside her, rose politely to make way for him.