“ ... To-day, for the first time, I enjoyed my visit to Italy. So far I have felt indifferent—even hostile to it. But to-day the weather was so divine, and it was such a joy to gather a few violets in the Cascine! At Kamenka they only appear in April.
“Now to return to Pique Dame. How can we manage to make the part lighter for poor Figner? Seven scenes, in which he has to sing without intermission! Do think it over.
“I am anxiously awaiting the ball scene. For Heaven’s sake lose no time, Modi, or I shall find myself without any text to set.”
To A. P. Merkling.
“Florence, February 7th (19th), 1890.
“To-day I wrote the scene in which Hermann goes to the old Queen of Spades. It was so gruesome that I am still under the horrible spell of it.”
To Modeste Tchaikovsky.
“Florence, February 12th (24th), 1890.
“If, God willing, I finish the opera, it will be something chic. The fourth scene will have an overwhelming effect.”
Meanwhile, on February 4th (16th), The Enchantress had been produced in Moscow for the first time. Kashkin wrote of it as follows:—