"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
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.