The singing master had not heard a bar of the operaAladdin before it was put on his table for examination，complete in notes and text.What judgment would bepassed?Assuredly a strong and just one.The young com-poser passed from highest hope to the thought that thewhole thing was only a self-delusion.
Two days passed by，and not a word was exchangedabout this important matter.Finally，the singing masterstood before him with the score in his hands，which henow knew.There was a peculiar seriousness spread overhis face that did not indicate his thoughts.
"I had not expected this，"he said."I had not be-lieved it of you.Indeed，I do not yet have a clear judg-ment，so I dare not express it.Here and there there arefaults in the instrumentation，faults that can easily becorrected.There are single things，bold and novel，thatone must hear under proper conditions.As there is inWagner a certain influence of Carl Maria von Weber，sothere is noticeable in you a breath of Haydn.That whichis new in what you have given is still rather remote to me，and you yourself are too near for me to be the right judge.I would rather not judge.I will embrace you!"he burstout，beaming with happiness."How have you been ableto do this!"And he embraced him in his arms."Happyman!"
A rumor soon spread through the city，via the news-papers and gossip，about the new opera by the popularyoung singer.
"He's a poor tailor who cannot put together a child's coat out of the scraps left over on his board，"said oneand another.
"Write the text，compose it，and sing it himself!"was also said."That is a three-storied genius.But hereally was born still higher—in a garret!"
"There are two at it，he and the singing master，"they said."Now they'll begin to beat the signal drum ofthe partnership of mutual admiration!"
The opera was given out for study.Those who tookpart would not give any opinion."It shall not be said thatit is judged from the theater，"they remarked;and almosteveryone put on a serious face that did not show any ex-pectation.
"There are a good many horns in the piece，"said ayoung trumpeter."If only he doesn't run a horn into him-self!"
"It has genius;it is brilliant，full of melody andcharacter!"That was also said.
"Tomorrow at this time，"said Peer，"the scaffold willbe raised.The judgment is，perhaps，already passed."
"some say that it is a masterpiece，"said the singing master，"others，that it is a mere patchwork."
"And where lies the truth?"
"Truth!"said the singing master."Yes，tell me where.Look at that star up there.Tell me exactly where
its place is.Shut one eye.Do you see it?Now look at it with the other only.The star has shifted its place.When each eye in the same，person sees so differently，how differ- ently must the great multitude see!"
"Happen what may，"said our young friend，"I must know my place in the world，understand what I can and must create，or give up."
The eveing came，the eveing of decision.A popu- lar artist was to be exalted to a higher place or humiliated in his gigantic，vain effort.Success or failure!The matter concerned the whole city.People stood all night in the street before the ticket office，to obtain seats.The house was crammed full.The ladies came with great bouquets;
would they be earried home again or thrown at the victor's feet?
The widow baroness and the young，beautiful daugh- ter sat in a box above the orchestra.There was a stir in the audience，a murmuring，a movement，which stopped atonce as the leader of the orchestra took his place and the overture began.