When the vision had vanished, the half written telegram on his table had disappeared also.

* * * * *

The party at A——­ House that night was brilliant rather than large.  In one of the drawing-rooms there was a piano, in front of which were six or seven rows of gilt chairs.  The other rooms were filled with shifting groups of beautiful women, and men wearing orders and medals.  There was a continuous buzz of conversation, except in the room where the music was going on; and even there in the background there was a subdued whispering.  The violinist was playing some elaborate nothings, and displaying astounding facility, but the audience did not seem to be much interested, for when he stopped, after some faint applause, conversation broke loose like a torrent.

“I do hope,” said some one to the lady next him, “that the music will be over soon.  One gets wedged in here, one doesn’t dare move, and one had to put up with having one’s conversation spoilt and interrupted.”

“It’s an extraordinary thing,” answered the lady, “that nobody dares give a party in London without some kind of entertainment.  It is such a mistake!”

At that moment the fourth and last item on the programme began, which was called “Greek Songs by Heraclius Themistocles Margaritis.”

“He certainly looks like a Greek,” said the lady who had been talking; “in fact if his hair was cut he would be quite good-looking.”

“It’s not my idea of a Greek,” whispered her neighbour.  “He is too fair.  I thought Greeks were dark.”

“Hush!” said the lady, and the first song began.  It was a strange thread of sound that came upon the ears of the listeners, rather high and piercing, and the accompaniment (Margaritis accompanied himself) was twanging and monotonous like the sound of an Indian tom-tom.  The same phrase was repeated two or three times over, the melody seemed to consist of only a very few notes, and to come over and over again with extraordinary persistence.  Then the music rose into a high shrill call and ended abruptly.

“What has happened?” asked the lady.  “Has he forgotten the words?”

“I think the song is over,” said the man.  “That’s one comfort at any rate.  I hate songs which I can’t understand.”

But their comments were stopped by the beginning of another song.  The second song was soft and very low, and seemed to be almost entirely on one note.  It was still shorter than the first one, and ended still more abruptly.

“I don’t believe he’s a Greek at all,” said the man.  “His songs are just like the noise of bagpipes.”

“I daresay he’s a Scotch,” said the lady.  “Scotchmen are very clever.  But I must say his songs are short.”