She seized the hearts of those hard and serious men as a wind takes the strong oak-trees, and rocks them on their knotted roots, and leaves them with the song of soaring among their branches. Italy shone about her; the lake, the plains, the peaks, and the shouldering flushed snowridges. Carlo Ammiani breathed as one who draws in fire. Grizzled Agostino glittered with suppressed emotion, like a frosted thorn-bush in the sunlight. Ugo Corte had his thick brows down, as a man who is reading iron matter. The Chief alone showed no sign beyond a half lifting of the hand, and a most luminous fixed observation of the fair young woman, from whom power was an emanation, free of effort. The gaze was sad in its thoughtfulness, such as our feelings translate of the light of evening.
She ceased, and he said, "You sing on the night of the fifteenth?"
"I do, signore."
"It is your first appearance?"
She bent her head.
"And you will be prepared on that night to sing this song?"
"Yes, signore."
"Save in the event of your being forbidden?"
"Unless you shall forbid me, I will sing it, signore."
"Should they imprison you?—"