about two in the morning
Cataneo had already sent a messenger to his house from the cafe . As the Palazzo Memmi was on the Grand Canal , not far from Santa Maria della Salute , the way thither on foot was round by the Rialto , or it could be reached in a gondola . The four guests would not separate and preferred to walk ; the Duke 's infirmities obliged him to get into his gondola . At about two in the morning anybody passing the Memmi palace would have seen light pouring out of every window across the Grand Canal , and have heard the delightful overture to _ Semiramide _ performed at the foot of the steps by the orchestra of the _ Fenice _ , as a serenade to la Tinti . The company were at supper in the second floor gallery . From the balcony la Tinti in return sang Almavida 's _ Buona sera _ from _ Il Barbiere _ , while the Duke 's steward distributed payment from his master to the poor artists and bid them to dinner the next day , such civilities as are expected of grand signors who protect singers , and of fine ladies who protect tenors and basses . In these cases there is nothing for it but to marry all the _ corps de theatre _ .