He thundered out the question, expanding still further his broad chest.

Nello temporised. The great director was evidently in a confidential mood. It was as well to fall in with his humour.

"Ah, why, Monsieur? I should like to know. I am sure I should learn a good deal."

Degraux, in his present mood, was pleased to have a listener. The concert was going on splendidly with experienced stars. It no longer required his attention.

"Listen, my young friend! I devoted myself to the business side of art. I saw more money was to be made out of exploiting other people than being exploited by others. Do you understand?"

"I think I do," said the young Italian, who was fairly shrewd for his years. "In fact, I am sure I do."

"Good! Gay followed the artistic side." Degraux snapped his fingers contemptuously. "The result: poor Gay, at his age, conducting a small orchestra at the Parthenon--a good one, I admit; but what is the remuneration? I, Paul Degraux," again he tapped his broad chest significantly, "am here in a great position. I have followed the business side of art; poor old Gay has followed the artistic side.

Bah!"

"You advise me, Monsieur, to cultivate the business side?" queried the young man.

"Of course. I am giving you good advice; sound advice. You have made a little stir here, certain things may follow from it. But still, you have not the reputation of Bauquel, second-rater that he is. Bauquel will be on his knees to me next week, and of course I shall take him back. It may be, when you come to me again, I can only give you a second place in the programme. The way will be hard from the artistic point of view."

Nello listened with deep attention. Degraux was a man of business to his finger-tips. Certainly he was giving him good advice.

"And what are they, these artists, except the very few who are in the front rank--creatures of an hour, of the public's caprice? Joachim, Sarasate, those are names to conjure with; they are permanent. But the others come and go. I, one of the directors of the Italian Opera, remain while they disappear. The exploiters are permanent, the exploited are transitory."

"What do you advise, Monsieur?" asked Nello timidly. This whirlwind of a man half fascinated, half repelled him.

Monsieur Degraux held out his hand with his frank, engaging smile.

"Be exploited as long as it suits your book. Then save money and exploit other people. I cannot stay any longer. I have given you a few hints. You must work them out for yourself."

A new world was opening to Nello Corsini, the talented young violinist who, only a few weeks ago, had played in the street on the chance of the coppers flung by pa.s.sers-by. But it was absurd! How could he ever be a Paul Degraux? And yet, Degraux had played twenty-five years ago in a small orchestra for a pittance. What was his income now?

Something princely.

He longed to hasten back to Dean Street with that precious sheaf of notes. How the dear old Papa's eyes would lighten up at the news of his success, when he told him the tale of how Bauquel's _claque_ had been silenced. And the dear little Anita too! Tears of joy would run down her cheeks.

Degraux, or Bauquel, after such a night of triumph, would have taken a cab. But such an idea was alien to Nello's frugal temperament. It was only a few moments' walk. He took his violin case in his hand and stepped along bravely.

As he emerged from the theatre a footman in handsome livery laid his hand upon his arm.

"Pardon me, Signor Corsini. The Princess Zouroff wishes to speak to you. Will you follow me, please? I will lead you to her carriage."

He followed the tall footman. The Princess, a grey-haired woman of tall and commanding presence, leaned through the carriage window.

"Ah, Signor Corsini, I have been enchanted with your playing to-night.

I am giving a reception at the Russian Emba.s.sy, in Chesham Place, to-morrow evening. I shall be so pleased if you will come and play for us--at your own fee, of course."

Nello shot a swift glance into the carriage. On the back seat, facing the horses, were the grey-haired woman and a beautiful young girl. On the front seat was a dark, handsome man of about thirty-five.

He recognised them at once, the man and the young girl. They were the two who had driven down the street to the Royalty Theatre on that dark winter night when he had been playing in the streets.

"Enchanted, Madame. I will present myself to you to-morrow evening.

Will you forgive me if I render you only very brief thanks at the moment? I have a very dear friend, I fear at the point of death, to whom I must hasten."

The grey-haired Princess inclined her head graciously. "Pray do not wait a moment. I am sorry such trouble is awaiting you on the night of so great a success."

Nello raised his hat and was moving away, when the charming girl leaned forward and spoke impetuously.

"One second, Signor; we might be of a.s.sistance to you. Will you please give me the name of your friend, and his address?" She had recognised him the moment he appeared on the platform as the wandering musician she had pa.s.sed on her way to the Royalty Theatre.

She turned eagerly to the Princess, her mother. "We might send our own doctor, Sir Charles Fowler, he is so very clever. Perhaps this gentleman's friend has not had the best medical advice."

The Princess a.s.sented graciously. She was a very kind-hearted woman, if not quite so enthusiastic in works of charity as her more impulsive daughter.

Nello, with burning cheeks, gave the name of poor old Papa Peron and the number of the small house in Dean Street. His cheeks flamed, because he was wondering if she had recognised him as he had remembered her. It was evident she thought he was poor by that remark about the best medical advice.

He thanked both the ladies in a low tone, and for the second time turned away. The man, Prince Zouroff, who had been fidgeting impatiently during the short interview, leaned out of the window of the carriage, and in a sharp, angry voice commanded the coachman to drive on.

Ho sank back in his seat and darted a glance of contempt, first at his sister, then at his mother.

"Your foolish sentimentality makes me sick, Nada. And I am surprised at you for abetting her in it," he added for the benefit of the Princess.

The Princess answered him in calm, sarcastic tones. "Would it not be better, Boris, if you left off interfering with every word and act of poor little Nada? If she has too much compa.s.sion, you redress the balance by having none."

Nello hastened with quick strides in the direction of Dean Street. His one fear was that Peron might have already pa.s.sed away. It would be heart-rending if he were not alive to hear the splendid news.

But the vital flame, although very low, was still burning. The old man had had a long sleep, the sleep of exhaustion. By some strange effort of will, he had allayed the impending dissolution, had awoke about the expected time of Nello's return, and was sitting up in bed, propped up against the pillows, awaiting the arrival of the young man whom he had grown to regard as a son.

"It is well, I can see," he said in the low, husky voice that was so soon to be hushed for ever. "It is well. Triumph is written all over your face. You have scored an even greater success than you antic.i.p.ated, eh?"

Nello sank on his knees beside the bed, at which his sister had devotedly seated herself, to watch the least movement of the dying man. He possessed himself of one of the long, wasted hands--those hands which had once made such eloquent music--and kissed it reverently.

"All thanks to you, my more than father. There was a trying moment. My first piece did not touch them much, and the Bauquel _claque_, as Degraux warned me would be the case, did their best to hiss me down.

Then I set my teeth and vowed that I would not be a failure and return home disgraced. I played that little romance, with my variations. I finished in a storm of applause."

"Ah!" sighed Peron amongst his pillows, a wan smile lighting his livid face. "That is your masterpiece. That would always stir the dullest audience."

"And listen, dear good Papa. Degraux was so pleased with my success that he has paid me double the fee he promised. No more short commons for any of us. Little Anita here shall keep the purse and maintain us in royal state." He threw his head back and laughed almost hysterically. "Oh, it must be a dream, a wild, mad dream. I cannot be the same Nello Corsini who, a few weeks ago, used to play in the streets for coppers."

Then he recovered from his overwrought mood. There was more yet to be told to this kind old man.

"Then, dear Papa, I had an adventure--it was the first-fruits of success. As I came out, a tall footman in livery accosted me; he was to lead me to the carriage of the Princess Zouroff."

Peron's voice grew a little stronger. "The mother of the Russian Amba.s.sador, Boris Zouroff. In the long ago I used to know her. Her husband was a brute. She has two children, Boris and a girl much younger than he. I have heard that Boris is a brute like his father.

Go on, Nello. Finish your adventure; but I can guess what is coming."

"The Princess is giving a reception to-morrow evening at the Emba.s.sy in Chesham Place. She has asked me to play, at my own price."

Tears welled up into the old man's eyes. "You are made, my son, but we must not be too jubilant. Artists are creatures of the hour. To-day Bauquel, to-morrow Nello Corsini. Take advantage of the present, but it will be wise to look out for something more permanent than the caprice of public favour, which dethrones its idols almost as quickly as it has crowned them."

Nello started. There was in Peron's mind the same thought that Degraux had expressed a short time ago.