At a stroke the pathetic play had made its fortune in London, and, as it turned out, paved the way for a new and larger triumph for Mr.Long's story.

The musical critics of the London newspapers came to the house and saw operatic possibilities in the drama.

So did Mr.Francis Nielson, at the time Covent Garden's stage manager, who sent word of the discovery to Signor Puccini.

The composer came from Milan, and realized on the spot that the successor of "Tosca" had been found.
Signori Illica and Giacosa, librettists in ordinary to Ricordi & Co., took the work of making the opera book in hand.

Signor Illica's fancy had roamed in the Land of Flowers before; he had written the libretto for Mascagni's "Iris." The ephemeral life of Cho-Cho-San was over in a few months, but by that time "Madama Butterfly," glorified by music, had lifted her wings for a new flight in Milan.
It is an old story that many operas which are recognized as masterpieces later, fail to find appreciation or approval when they are first produced.