One or two newspapers the following morning insisted on regarding my speech of the previous evening as a melancholy joke. I had announced that Mdlle. Marimon was physically unable to fulfil the demands of her _rôle_, and that she would omit the shadow song. But, said the papers, her efforts throughout the evening had all been shadow songs, the little lady having been absolutely voiceless. Mdlle. Marimon, however, in settling up the account some weeks afterwards, charged me £120 for this performance, arguing that she had appeared and done her best under the circumstances. CHAPTER XVI. SIR MICHAEL AND HIS CHEQUE--SIX MINUTES' BANKRUPTCY--SUCCESS OF "LOHENGRIN"--PRODUCTION OF "MEFISTOFELE"--RETURN TO NEW YORK--"LOHENGRIN" UNDER DIFFICULTIES--ELSA'S TAILS--CINCINNATI OPERA FESTIVAL. I BEGAN my London season of 1880 a few days after my return from the United States, Mdme. Christine Nilsson appearing as "Margherita" in _Faust_ on the opening night, followed by _La Sonnambula_, _Carmen_, _Aida_, etc., also _Lohengrin_, for which I had specially entered into an engagement with Richter, who after some fifteen rehearsals declared the work ready for presentation. He at the same time informed me that on looking through the orchestral parts he had discovered no less than 430 mistakes which had been passed over by his predecessor, Sir Michael Costa, and which he had corrected. About this time law proceedings were pretty hot between myself and Sir Michael Costa, and as they led to my becoming a bankrupt for about six minutes, I may as well explain to the reader how this occurred. My engagement with Sir Michael Costa was for a season of three months in each year, for which I was to give him £1,500--£500 each month, payable in advance. My season of 1875 was fixed to open on the 24th April, and to terminate on the 24th July, which it actually did; but having at that time secured the services of the great tragedian Salvini, I thought it desirable to open the theatre about a fortnight earlier, giving opera only twice or three times a week, and utilizing the other nights for the appearances of Salvini. I mentioned my idea to Costa, who said I had better pay him his regular cheque as from the commencement of the season, and that the few extra nights could be settled for apart.