"He played superbly. Do you think I could persuade him to come on to the

court for the ninth? I wish you'd ask him. But surely he is going to

play again?" she added eagerly.

"I will ask him," said Drake.

"Yes, do, Drake," murmured Lady Luce, who had reëntered the room and

glided near him. The divine music had not touched her in the least;

indeed, she had thought the solo rather out of place at a dance--quite

too sad and depressing; but as she seconded the duchess' request, her

blue eyes seemed dim with tears, and her lips tremulous. "It was so very

beautiful! I am half crying!" and the perfectly shaped lips pouted

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piteously.

Drake nodded, led the duchess to a chair, and went slowly up the room

toward the gallery stairs.

Nell, who had been watching him in a dull, vacant way, lost him for a

moment or two; then she heard his voice near her, and saw him dimly

standing in the gallery doorway.

She stifled a cry, and shrank back behind Mrs. Hawksley, so that the

stout form of the old lady completely hid her.

"Mr. Falconer?" she heard the deep voice say gravely.

Falconer bowed, his violin under his arm, his pale, thin face perfectly

composed. His music was still ringing in his ears, vibrating in his

soul, too great to be stirred by the applause which had again broken

out.

"I have come to thank you for the sonata, Mr. Falconer, and to ask you

to be so kind as to play again," said Drake, in the simple, impassive

manner of the Englishman.

"I shall be very pleased, my lord," said Falconer quietly; and he placed

his violin in position.

Drake looked absently round the gallery. It was only dimly lit by the

candles in the music stands, and the servants had respectfully drawn

back, so that Nell was still hidden; but she trembled with the fear that

those in front of her might move, and that he might see her; for she

knew how keen those eyes of his could be.

Drake felt that the dim light was a pleasant contrast to the brilliance

of the room below, and he lingered, leaning against the wall, his arms

folded, his head drooped. He was so near Nell that she could almost have

touched him--so near that she almost dreaded that he must hear the wild

throbbings of her heart. Once, as the violin wailed out a passionate,

despairing, yet exquisitely sweet passage of the Raff cavatina Falconer

was playing, she heard Drake sigh.




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