At last! at last he will be heard in solo!
What matter all the weary years without recognition? He will be heard! What matter that it is only a charity concert and he has proffered his services? He will be heard! and the appreciation of the audience will testify to his genius.
But hark!
There has been some mistake!
That should have been his number, not the tenor solo!
Never mind, it is all right! What matters a few moments more or less, when one is about to reach one’s soul’s desire?
So he sits and listens, his heart beating loudly with suppressed but consuming excitement.
At last! At last!
But what is that?
The audience is leaving!