But his forced gaiety broke down badly, and he said more soberly, "Don't ask me what I've been doing, Helga."
Helga's eyes wandered around the room for a moment and then she said, "I know! Neils told me something about it, and he wished me to say----"
Before she could finish Oscar had risen to his feet. "If you come from Finsen I know what your errand is, and I would rather die----"
"No, no, no," said Helga, clinging to his nervous hand. "Sit down. It's not that at all. Listen!"
He sat and the sweetness of her look banished all his fears.
"They're giving what they call promenade concerts at Covent Garden, and a few days ago there was some difference with the leader of the orchestra. It seemed desirable to make a change and the question was who the new leader ought to be. Naturally I thought of you."
"Of me?"
"Why not? Didn't I see what you could do with those hundred and fifty numskulls at Thingvellir?"
"But Covent Garden!"
"My dear Oscar, I've seen every leader they have here, and while they are all your superiors in knowledge and experience, there's not one of them with a tittle of your magnetism and genius. So I said, 'Neils, if you want the finest leader that London has ever seen let me go and fetch him!'"