She stood up and walked toward the door. Walther held out his hand; she ignored it. He started after her, and Willy said,
"Let her go."
Willy looked so depressed that Walther felt a need to comfort him.
"It's all right," he said. "We'll forget the whole idea."
Willy shook his head.
"She'll do it," he said wearily.
"But...."
"She'll do it because she thinks she owes it to me."
Walther waited for the old maestro to continue.
"As soon as we're through recording," Willy went on, pushing himself up from the window seat, "Maria wants to be released to another opera company."