Immediately after the performance we started for San Francisco, where we arrived the following Sunday afternoon, opening with _Carmen_ on the Monday night before a most distinguished audience. Signor Ravelli performed "Don José," but in a very careless manner, omitting the best part of the music. He made little or no effect, whilst Minnie Hauk, who had not recovered from her previous fatigues, obtained but a _succès d'estime_. Meantime a sale of seats by auction, which had been held, was an entire _fiasco_. The second evening Mdlle. Fohström made a most brilliant success. The third night was devoted to Massenet's _Manon_, in which Miss Hauk did far better than on the opening night. The following evening we performed _La Traviata_, in which Mdme. Nordica made her appearance, Signor Giannini undertaking the _rôle_ of "Alfredo." During this time great preparations were being made for a production of _L'Africaine_. The whole of the scenery and dresses, even to the ship, had been brought to the Pacific coast, at a considerable outlay; no less than £900 being paid for overweight of baggage through transporting this costly vessel across the plains. The performance was a fine one, and the work was rendered admirably throughout, the great ballets and the processions gaining immense applause. In the meantime a great deal of unpleasantness was going on in the Company, which greatly crippled my movements, besides diminishing my nightly receipts. Although Ravelli, who was really the cause of all the trouble, had been ill for nearly three weeks, he refused to sing any more unless his full salary were paid him for the whole of the time. This, of course, I refused, and law proceedings were the consequence. De Anna, the baritone, had an engagement for the whole six months of our American tour; and there was a clause in his contract which provided that during the interval of eight days, about the latter part of December, whilst the Company was idle, the salary should be suspended. But on our resuming the tour Mr. De Anna immediately notified me that unless I paid him for those eight days he would stop singing. This was the commencement of my trouble with him. Prior to our arrival his salary was handed to him, half in cash, and half in a cheque payable at San Francisco. He presented his cheque at the bank before the money had been placed there, and notified me that in consequence of non-payment he refused to sing that evening. Thereupon the treasurer went down to his hotel with the money, which was only a small amount of some £50 or £60. But he refused to accept it and surrender the cheque. The money was again tendered to him, and again refused.