He held in his hand a kind of guitar with a neck of ebony expensively inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl; at its upper end the neck formed a sort of palette, in the middle of which was a small, round plate chased with gold, resembling the lid of a medallion.
We emphasise the costliness of this instrument because it seemed very strange that a strolling Bohemian should be its possessor.
Stephanette herself was struck with it, and cried:
“Why, Singer, I never saw that beautiful guitar before!”
These words attracted the attention of Reine, and, as surprised as her maid, she said to the Bohemian:
“Really, this is a very expensive instrument for a travelling artisan.”
“I am poor, mademoiselle, sometimes I have wanted bread, but ah! I would rather die of hunger than sell this guzla. My arms are weak, but they would become as strong as brass to defend this guzla. They would only take it from me after my death. It is my most precious treasure; I hardly dare to play it. But the rose of Anbiez wishes to hear me; all that I now desire is that my song may be worthy of the instrument and of her who listens to me.”
The Bohemian spoke French quite purely, although he had something guttural in his Arabian accent.
Reine exchanged a glance of surprise with her attendant, as she heard this florid Oriental speech, which contrasted singularly with the condition of the wanderer.
“But this guzla, as you call this instrument, how did you come to possess it?”