aid, but her strength gives way, and the Demon
embraces and kisses her. At this moment the Angel of Light appears,
and Tamara is about to hasten to him, when with a loud cry she sinks
down lifeless. Satan has lost; despairing and cursing all, he vanishes
and a thunder-bolt destroys the cloister, from amid the ruins of which
the Angels bear the poor love-tortured Tamara to Heaven.

{52}

LE DOMINO NOIR.

Comic Opera in three acts by AUBER.

Text by SCRIBE.

This is one of the most charming comic operas, which were ever written
by this master. Graceful archness and elegance of style are its
characteristics, and these lose nothing from the presence of a gay and
easy temper which makes itself felt throughout. The same may be said
of the libretto.

The plot is well worked out and entertaining. The scene is laid in
Madrid in our century.

The Queen of Spain gives a masqued ball, at which our heroine Angela is
present, accompanied by her companion Brigitta. There she is seen by
Horatio di Massarena, a young nobleman, who had met her a year before
at one of these balls and fell in love with, without knowing her.

This time he detains her, but is again unable to discover her real
name, and confessing his love for her, he receives the answer, that she
can be no more than a friend to him. Massarena detains her so long
that the clock strikes the midnight-hour as Angela prepares to seek her
companion. Massarena confesses to having removed Brigitta under some
pretext, and Angela in despair cries out, that she is lost. She is in
reality member of a convent, and destined to be Lady-Abbess, though she
has not yet taken the vows. She is very highly connected, and has
secretly helped Massarena to advance in his career as a {53}
diplomatist.--Great is her anxiety to return in her convent after
midnight, but she declines all escort, and walking alone through the
streets, she comes by chance into the house of Count Juliano, a
gentleman of somewhat uncertain character, and Massarena's friend.
Juliano is just giving a supper to his gay friends and Angela bribes
his housekeeper Claudia, to keep her for the night. She appears before
the guests disguised as an Arragonian waiting-maid, and charms them
all, and particularly Massarena with her grace and coquetry. But as
the young gentlemen begin to be insolent, she disappears, feeling
herself in danger of being recognized. Massarena, discovering in her
the charming bla