They were all jealous of each other by anticipation.

Already, in the gravest spirit of business, a scheme for taking off her horses at the city gates and harnessing their noble selves to the carriage of the expected guest was discussed.
The reputation enjoyed by the great singer Bianca Lalli at that time was very high throughout Italy.

But, perhaps,--any one of her rival goddesses would have said undoubtedly,--it was a reputation not wholly and exclusively due to her strictly vocal charms.

She was, in truth, a woman of more than ordinary beauty; and was universally declared to exercise a charm on all who came within reach of her influence beyond that which even extraordinary beauty has always the privilege of exercising.

All kinds of stories were told of her boundless power of fascination.