For half a minute or nearly, everything was still on the stage and in the house. Then the player’s voice, passionate and low, broke again upon the silence, and in a second or two Carl touched Christopher upon the shoulder. There was a curiously crisp feeling in the-composer’s nerves, and he was a little excited. He tucked his violin under his chin, and stood prepared. Into the definite band of moonlight which crossed the stage glided suddenly a white figure.
‘Now,’ whispered Carl, and touched the musician on the shoulder, and straight from the violin soared a voice, not soft and low, but clear and loud, and the air was ‘Cruel Barbara Allen.’ Carl fell back a step or two in his amazement. The white figure on the stage turned round, and for a moment peered into the darkness of the flies—then glided on again. The air once played, the composer cast his violin upon the stage beneath his feet and trampled it, hurled the bow from him, and with one cry, eloquent of agony and rage, turned and dashed past his companion, and, tumbling through the dark and unaccustomed ways, reached the street. Carl followed him and caught him up.
‘What is it, Stretton? What is the matter?’ he cried, and seized his friend by the arm. Christopher answered nothing, but hurried on like one distracted. ‘He’s mad,’ said Carl within himself—‘quite mad.’
They came together to their chambers, and Christopher sank into an arm-chair and moaned, unconscious of Carl’s presence, ‘Barbara! Barbara!’
‘It is madness,’ said Carl, tossing his hands tempestuously towards the ceiling, ‘mere midsummer madness. Poor fellow! Stretton! Stretton! Listen to me! What is it? Don’t you know me?’
For Christopher glared at him like one who had no knowledge of him, and then again hid his face within his hands.
‘What on earth made you play that tune?’ cried Carl.
‘She was there, man! She was there!’ groaned Christopher, rising and pacing the room with unequal steps.
‘Who was there?’ said Carl, almost as wildly.
‘Barbara,’ groaned Christopher again, ‘Mademoiselle Hélène is Barbara Allen.’