"You have tortured my ears," said the stranger. Nigel flushed angrily—so after all the idea had been to make game of him—"with your damned Verdi."
"How do you mean?"
"You are too good to play Verdi."
"Oh!"
"What are your favourite composers?"
"Gounod—Verdi—Balfe——"
"Ai! Ai! Ach!" and the stranger put his hands over his ears.
Nigel was beginning to be faintly amused.
"Well, what's the matter with 'em?"
"The matter?—they are dead."