Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

SGAMBATI 55
door had I met anyone who could have recognised me.
But Eome is a small place, and our secret oozed out
in a way for which I was not at all prepared. The
young student who came to play duets with me knew
my handwriting, and happening to pay a visit to the
G family about an hour after I had left the boot,
he told them whose the writing was ; and even before
the concert had begun, Sgambati knew the whole
thing. His mother was not present at this concert,
but I met the young lady who had been my neighbour
on the first occasion. We sat together, and both
rejoiced as Signorina Gr came forward, looking
happy and full of spirits, and played with fire, energy,
and eZaw. Signor Sgambati looked all pleasure and
satisfaction as he shook hands with his pupil at the
conclusion of the piece. He then descended the plat-
form, and I wondered whom he wanted, as he hurried
down the room, glancing to the right and to the left
as he moved along. He came nearer, and I perceived
that his face wore a smile, his eyes were beaming with
irrepressible amusement, and even before he addressed
me, or indeed saw me, I feared that all was known,
and felt that I was reddening in a very tell-tale
manner. His first words to me seemed innocent of
any special meaning—in fact, would have suggested
nothing to an outsider ; it was the smile that accom-
panied them, the tone m which they were uttered,
that gave them any meaning at all. ' The family
want, of course, to know you.' ' What
family ?' was