Mackenzie was less lucky in his second attempt. Again he had the misfortune to be hampered by one of Dr. Hueffer's elephantine librettos. Hence “The Troubadour” with its ghastly climax, wherein the erring heroine is compelled by her husband to drink a goblet filled with the blood of the fascinating Guillem de Cabestanh, proved too much for even those who admired the melodic charm and dramatic power of the music. This was the novelty for 1886.