"What a pity," he said, "that one cannot hear this nightingale nearer."
"Why should not that be possible?" cried the vicomte, springing up as if electrified.
Fernando grew frightened. This idea might disturb his plan.
"What is there in a street-singer?" he contemptuously asked.
Talizac, however, who was under the influence of the champagne he had drunk, did not understand the hint, and angrily exclaimed:
"Now she shall just come upstairs; first she must sing to us, and then—"
"And then?" repeated Arthur curiously.
"Ah, it is merely a little surprise we arranged for the little one," observed Velletri, with a cynical laugh.
"What! a surprise?"