There was room in it for four or five persons to see the stage.
The Duchessa and her husband arrived in the middle of the first act, and remained alone until it was over.

Corona was extremely fond of "Norma," and after she was seated never took her eyes from the stage.

Astrardente, on the other hand, maintained his character as a man of no illusions, and swept the house with his small opera-glass.

The instrument itself was like him, and would have been appropriate for a fine lady of the First Empire; it was of mother-of-pearl, made very small and light, the metal-work upon it heavily gilt and ornamented with turquoises.

The old man glanced from time to time at the stage, and then again settled himself to the study of the audience, which interested him far more than the opera.
"Every human being you ever heard of is here," he remarked at the end of the first act.