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The voice students were not permitted to practice much for fear of damaging their vocal cords, with the result that, in the absence of the customary ^American ? sports, they found themselves with time on their hands and the novelty of Tivoli life wearing thin. Cliques and factions ^tended to form and an ? was not long in surfacing.

    "We have a problem"  Prof Corli said one day,

"and I must ask your help, my dear pupil, in solving it. None of us speaks very much English, as you know and, furthermore, we don't always understand your American ways of thinking. The trouble is this: a students' recital has been planned, to be held in the newly restored hall at the ^west end of the villa. It is intended as a gala affair: the Mayor of Tivoli is to be present and the American Ambassador is coming out from Rome; there will be ^a reception with speeches and champagne at the conclusion of the students program and the fountains in the gardens are to be turned on. But now comes the problem. One of the