'There is no reason for your Majesty to be in a bad humour and spoil your health,' Guarini said. 'Faustina is going to sing to-night with Abbuzzi, they now love each other very tenderly.'
Augustus looked round and muttered:
'Amor quel che piace!'
It was the beginning of a song which he was nearly humming.
Guarini, taking great pains to disperse the king's gloomy feelings, ordered a magnificent portrait painted by Giorgione, and recently purchased in Venice, to be brought. The King on seeing it said enthusiastically: 'A, che bello!'
He again forgot about everything.
'What softness of the brush, what colouring, what life!' he exclaimed, delighted with the picture, and his eyes smiled.
Half-an-hour later Faustina asked for an audience on important theatre affairs, and it was granted.
All withdrew and she entertained the King for about half-an-hour with a very animated conversation; when she left, Augustus was beaming with delight as if there were neither ministers, nor state affairs, nor any sorrows in this world. The clouds were entirely dispersed.
It was not so easy a matter to calm the anxiety of the Queen and her accomplices in the plot. They knew how daring Sulkowski was, how he loved the King, how many friends he had at the court, and how, as he was familiar with the habits of the King, he could easily reach him. Consequently guards were stationed all round the Count's palace, round the opera, at the side door of the castle, at the entrance leading to the King's apartments.