and--largely also of critics, and of
musical persons with flowing hair and note-books. Hubert knew Madame
della Scala's reputation; it was here that the _impresario_ on the watch
for new talent always came--it was here that the career of more than one
famous English singer had been successfully begun. It was of some
importance therefore that Cynthia should sing her best and do her utmost
to impress her audience.

Having looked about him and consulted his programme, Hubert glanced at
the platform, and was aware that a little comedy was being enacted for
the benefit of all persons present.

Madame della Scala was first led forward by a bevy of admiring pupils,
Cynthia not being one, and made her bow to the audience with an air of
gracious humility that was very effective indeed. She was a dark, thin
little woman who had once been handsome, and was still striking in
appearance. She had been an operatic singer in days gone by, and had
taken up the profession of a teacher only when her vocal powers began to
fail. In demi-toilette, with ribbons and medals adorning her square-cut
bodice, long gloves on her hands, and a fan between her fingers, the
little lady curtseyed, smiled, gesticulated, in a charmingly foreign
way, which procured for her the warmest plaudits of the audience. One
felt that, though she herself was not about to perform in person, she
considered herself responsible for the efforts of her pupils, and made
herself fascinating on their behalf.

A large screen was placed on one side of the platform, and a grand piano
nearly filled the other side, leaving a central space for the
performers. At first Hubert had wondered why the screen was there. Now
he saw its use. Madame della Scala seated herself in a chair behind it,
with her face to the singers--evidently under the delusion that her
figure was completely hidden from the audience, and that she could,
unseen, direct, stimulate, or reprove the singers by movement of head,
hands, handkerchief, and fan. The manoeuvre would have been successful
enough, but for the fact that the back of the platform was entirely
filled with a sheet of looking-glass, and that in this mirror her
gestures and facial contortions were all distinctly visible to the
greater number of the listeners. Hubert found great satisfaction in
watching the different expressions of her countenance; he told himself
that Madame's face was the most interesting part of the performance. How
sweetly she sm