dying Boris; the opening of the scene in the Temple of Moloch has become the _Arioso_ in the third act of _Boris Godounov_; while the Triumphal Hymn to Moloch is utilised as the people's chorus of acclamation to the False Demetrius in the same opera. Moussorgsky's next operatic essay took the form which he described as "opera dialogué." The subject--Gogol's prose comedy "The Match-Maker"--was admirably suited to him, and he started upon the work full of enthusiasm for the task. His methods are shown in a letter written to César Cui in the summer of 1868, in which he says: "I am endeavouring as far as possible to observe very clearly the changes of intonation made by the different characters in the course of conversation; and made, so it appears, for trifling reasons, and on the most insignificant words. Here, in my opinion, lies the secret of Gogol's powerful humour.... How true is the saying: 'the farther we penetrate into the forest the more trees we find!' How subtle Gogol is! He has observed old women and peasants and discovered the most fascinating types.... All this is very useful to me; the types of old women are really precious." Moussorgsky abandoned _The Match-Maker_ after completing the first act. This was published by Bessel, in 1911, under the editorship of Rimsky-Korsakov, and contains the following note: "I leave the rights in this work of my pupilage unconditionally and eternally to my dear Vladimir Vassilievich Stassov on this his birthday, January 2nd, 1873. (Signed) Modeste Moussoryanin, alias Moussorgsky. Written with a quill pen in Stassov's flat, Mokhovaya, House Melnikov, amid a considerable concourse of people. "The said MOUSSORGSKY."