Allison was everlastingly encouraging Waller to musical creations by exciting his imagination with suggestions and in the end writing the story, although he tried faithfully to find a librettist who, he too modestly believed, might do better work than he. In the end, however, each of the children of his brain came back to its creator. The fact was that Waller couldn't or wouldn't work with others. So was conceived "Brother Francesco," an opera set in a monastery in Italy during the Seventeenth Century, and bringing up a vivid picture of monks, medieval chapels--dark, massive and severe--and the dank scent of deep tragedy. There were but four main characters, a quartette of voices, in "Brother Francesco," which was in one act of about an hour and ten minutes, the whole story unravelling itself in the public chapel between the ringing of the church bell and the conclusion of the mass of the Benediction of the Holy Virgin. The altar lights have not been lit. Enter Francesco, a novice, to light them. A candle flashes on the altar; then another--and the tale unfolds. Francesco, sorrowing over his lost love, Maria, observes the Father Confessor enter the Confessional and, reminded of his too worldly thoughts, kneels and sings an aria, "The Confession," in which the tragedy of his life is revealed. THE CONFESSION. All my sins confessing humbly, oh, my father-- All my thoughts are ever of my lost Maria. Wondrously fair and so pure was she Whom I loved ere my heart was dead-- When love yet thrilled with tender mystery. Ah, her face! I see it ever--waking, dreaming, Hear her voice in cadence tender, softly speaking. Pure was the love that from heaven above Filled my heart with its ardent flame And blowed with passion's thrilling mystery. Our fathers were at strife And we were kept apart. I told Lucretia all and Bade her pour my love Into Maria's breast. I waited long and then She said Maria--false To me--was pledged to wed Another that she loved. That cruel message, father, broke my heart. It was not long until I saw Lucretia's heart--that she could love Where false Maria failed. And so In sympathy we two were wed. The vows had scarce been said-- Aye, on the church's steps--a messenger Did crush a letter in my hand. 'Twas but a line, but at the end-- Oh God in Heaven! Maria's name. "I hear that thou art false," it said, "But I cannot believe "That one who loved as thou didst "Could fail me or deceive." Ah! suspicion, like a lightning flash, Transfixed me and I held The paper to Lucretia's face And bade her read and tell me all. Upon her knees she fell and whined That she had loved me too, and had Deceived me of Maria's heart--Ah! God! In that damned moment's rage I struck her as she knelt--to kill!