Sabina evidently did not fully appreciate Smetana's intention to write a full-length opera, later commenting: "If I had suspected what Smetana would make of my operetta, I should have taken more pains and written him a better and more solid libretto."
Sabina havde ikke fuldt ud forstået Smetanas hensigt om at skrive en opera i fuld længde, idet han senere skrev: "Hvis jeg havde haft mistanke om, hvad Smetana ville gøre ved min operette, ville jeg have gjort mig mere umage og skrevet ham en bedre og mere solid libretto".