e near in heart there is a fluid in the air that
intercedes for the higher truth. M. Riviere and Eleanore scarcely
breathed during the recital. Eleanore's big eyes were still: they opened
and closed slowly. When Daniel finished, he dried his hot brow with his
handkerchief, and then his arms fell limp at his sides. He felt as if
the brilliancy of Eleanore's eyes had reached the tips of his hair and
had electrified it.

"Enshroud with ivy, until the roses bloom again, oh Love, the dampened
hair of thy poet!"

"It is impossible to get an idea of it," murmured Daniel; "the piano is
like an instrument of torture."

They were struck by peculiar sounds coming from the living room. They
went in, and found Gertrude pale as death, her hands folded across her
bosom, sitting on the sofa. She was talking to herself, partly as if in
a dream, partly as if she were praying. It was impossible to understand
what she was saying. She seemed distant, estranged.

Eleanore hastened to her; Daniel looked at her with a scowl. Just then
the bell rang, and M. Riviere went out. There was the sound of a man's
voice; it was disagreeable. The door was opened and--Herr Carovius
entered.

VII

Herr Carovius bowed in all directions. He wore tan shoes with brass
buckles, black trousers, a shiny green coat, and a white cravat that
could no longer be called clean. He laid his slouch hat on a chair, and
said he would like to beg their pardon if he had called at an
inopportune hour. He had come, he said, to thank his dear young master
for the aforementioned invitation.

"It seems--yes, it seems," he added, with a droll blinking of his eyes,
"that I have in all innocence interrupted the performance of a most
interesting production. There is a crowd of people gathered out in front
of the house, and I could not forego the pleasure of listening. I hope
you will not stop playing the sacrificial festival on my account. What
was it, _maestro_? It wasn't the symphony, was it?"

"Yes, it was the symphony," replied Daniel, who was so amazed at the
appearance and conduct of the man that he was really courteous.

"It cost me money to be sure--believe it or not. I had to get an
afternoon coat that would do for a Count--latest cut, velvet collar,
tails that reached down to my calves. Aristocratic, very!" He stared
over Gertrude's head into the corner, and tittered for at least a half a
minute.

Nobody said a word. Everybody