“Madame, you have struck de key-note of it all, I fear. I plead guilty. But I also plead, in extenuation, dat I have a vife to whom I owe a great duty.”
“Ah, yes, a wife! True, true; but did you ever put straight to her the question whether she would prefer to have you slave for money or give her a little more of your time for pleasure?”
“No; but I know vhat she vould say. You are right und I am wrong. But come, Miss Dorothy, de lesson! I have brought with me my own instrument. I vill get it at once.”
Stepping across the room he picked up his violin case and began to unfasten the clasps, while Dorothy watched him with fascinated gaze.
“Oh, Herr,” cried the girl, “you—you didn’t bring your old Cremona?”
“Surely. Vhat you t’ink, dat you are not good enough to be taught on a Cremona, eh?”
“Oh, Herr, you know I didn’t mean that!”
“Of course not,” he laughed. “You meant dat you vould like to see it, maybe?”
“Yes, yes.”