"That is too funny, that you should instruct me in such things. Why, I have a ticket for all the proben, as any one can have who chooses to pay two thalers at the _sasse_. I have a mind to hear this. They say the orchestra are going to rebel against von Francius. And I am going to the concert to-morrow, too. One can not hear too much of such fine music; and when one's friend sings, too--"
"What friend of yours is going to sing?" I inquired, coldly.
"Why, you, you _allerliebster kleiner Engel_," said she, in a tone of familiarity, to which I strongly objected.
I could say no more against her going, but certainly displayed no enthusiastic desire for her company.
The probe, we found, was to be in the great saal; it was half lighted, and there were perhaps some fifty people, holders of probe-tickets, seated in the parquet.
"You are going to sing well to-night," said von Francius, as he handed me up the steps--"for my sake and your own, _nicht wahr_?"
"I will try," said, I, looking round the great orchestra, and seeing how full it was--so many fresh faces, both in chorus and orchestra.
And as I looked, I saw Courvoisier come in by the little door at the top of the orchestra steps and descend to his place. His face was clouded--very clouded; I had never seen him look thus before. He had no smile for those who greeted him. As he took his place beside Helfen, and the latter asked him some question, he stared absently at him, then answered with a look of absence and weariness.
"Herr Courvoisier," said von Francius--and I, being near, heard the whole dialogue--"you always allow yourself to be waited for."
Courvoisier glanced up. I with a new, sudden interest, watched the behavior of the two men. In the face of von Francius I thought to discover dislike, contempt.
"I beg your pardon; I was detained," answered Courvoisier, composedly.
"It is unfortunate that you should be so often detained at the time when your work should be beginning."
Unmoved and unchanging, Courvoisier heard and submitted to the words, and to the tone in which they were spoken--sarcastic, sneering, and unbelieving.
"Now we will begin," pursued von Francius, with a disagreeable smile, as he rapped with his baton upon the rail. I looked at Courvoisier--looked at his friend, Friedhelm Helfen. The former was sitting as quietly as possible, rather pale, and with the same clouded look, but not deeper than before; the latter was flushed, and eyed von Francius with no friendly glance.