"Then let yourself be embraced on the spot. It is simply superb!"
It was toward eleven o'clock before de Sterny remembered that duty called him back into "the world." Gesa had shown him several more of his own compositions, and in everything the virtuoso had taken the liveliest interest.
Gesa accompanied his friend from the Rue Ravestein into the region of civilization. De Sterny was absent and silent. "Well, what do you say?" urged his disciple, pressingly.
"You will have very great success."
"In what--in my marriage?" laughed Gesa.
"Ah your marriage!" The virtuoso started--"yes, your marriage. Well--she is the most enchanting creature I have met since her mother. What a voice--she could become a Malibran."
"And?"--
They were standing now at the Place Royale. "Dieu merci--there comes a carriage--I despaired of finding one," cried de Sterny. "Adieu,--bring me the whole of your 'Inferno' to-morrow,--auf Wiedersehen!"
With this he sprang into the fiacre which had stopped at a sign from him, and rolled away.
In the Rue Ravestein that evening there was a great deal to talk about. Old Delileo, whose cheeks glowed as if he had been drinking champagne, was very loquacious. Gesa confided to Annette word for word, de Sterny's flattering judgment upon her, but she showed herself nervous and irritable like a child too early waked from sleep. She complained that she had sung badly. She who had always so kindly indulged the garrulity of her poor old father, scarcely listened to him, even made impatient little grimaces, and said his way of walking up and down put her beside herself. When the old man sat down with a hurt air, then she broke into tears and begged his forgiveness.