She was apparently in vast delight.  ’There will be a perfect inundation to-morrow night from Prague and Vienna to see me even in so miserable a part as Michiella,’ she said.  ’Here I am supposed to be a beginner; I am no debutante there.’

‘I can believe it, I can believe it,’ responded Rocco, bowing for her speedy departure.

’You are not satisfied with my singing of Michiella’s score!  Now, tell me, kind, good, harsh old master! you think that Miss Vittoria would sing it better.  So do I. And I can sing another part better.  You do not know my capacities.’

‘I am sure there is nothing you would not attempt,’ said Rocco, bowing resignedly.

‘There never was question of my courage.’

‘Yes, but courage, courage! away with your courage!’ Rocco was spurred by his personal grievances against her in a manner to make him forget his desire to be rid of her.  ’Your courage sets you flying at once at every fioritura and bravura passage, to subdue, not to learn:  not to accomplish, but to conquer it.  And the ability, let me say, is not in proportion to the courage, which is probably too great to be easily equalled; but you have the opportunity to make your part celebrated to-morrow night, if, as you tell me, the house is to be packed with Viennese, and, signorina, you let your hair down.’

The hair of Irma di Karski was of singular beauty, and so dear to her that the allusion to the triumphant feature of her person passed off Rocco’s irony in sugar.

‘Addio!  I shall astonish you before many hours have gone by,’ she said; and this time they bowed together, and the maestro tripped back hurriedly, and shut his door.

Luigi’s astonishment eclipsed his chagrin when he beheld the lady step from her place, bidding the driver move away as if he carried a freight, and indicating a position for him at the end of the street, with an imperative sway and deflection of her hand.  Luigi heard the clear thin sound of a key dropped to her from one of the upper windows.  She was quick to seize it; the door opened stealthily to her, and she passed out of sight without casting a look behind.  ’That’s a woman going to discover a secret, if she can,’ remarked the observer; meaning that he considered the sex bad Generals, save when they have occasion to preserve themselves secret; then they look behind them carefully enough.  The situation was one of stringent torment to a professional and natural spy.  Luigi lost count of minutes in his irritation at the mystery, which he took as a personal offence.  Some suspicion or wariness existed in the lighted room, for the maestro threw up a window, and inspected the street to right and left.  Apparently satisfied he withdrew his head, and the window was closed.

In a little while Vittoria’s voice rose audible out of the stillness, though she restrained its volume.