A peculiar smile flitted over the priest's face on hearing the latter name, and looking at Vinzi, he said pleasantly, "Come along with me."
He led them down the long corridor, opened a door in the rear and invited all three to enter. It was a very large room with dark panelled walls, against which stood ancient leather chairs with high backs. In the center of the room was an immense square table, but Vinzi's eyes had been instantly attracted by something in the corner and he kept gazing at it. It looked like Alida's piano, only taller.
The priest now stood right in front of the boys and inquired what the grandfather desired.
Vinzi felt that it was his duty to report and said if the kind father wished it, they would be pleased to sing the song which he had given the old man.
"Good! I will be pleased to listen," said the priest, and when he noticed that Vinzi hesitated, he added, "Do you want to ask something else, lad?"
"Shall I sing with them, or shall I play?"
"Play, play; I must hear the shawm too," said Father Silvanus with a kindly smile.
Instantly the music started, and Vinzi, sure of his two singers and gaining courage from the priest's kind manner, did not play the melody, but an accompaniment which he had often practised by himself.
When the song was at an end, Father Silvanus looked at Vinzi with real affection. Placing his hand on the boy's shoulder and gazing straight into his eyes, he said, "My boy, I want to know something; tell me the truth about it. Had you heard the tune you have just been playing, or a similar one, perhaps, with other words?"
