y were made.

Little by little, but without loss of time, her perspicacity penetrated
the disguises, although not to the motives that impelled the plotters.
She centered her thoughts on the old, white-locked pianist, who silently
listened to all the parties and was tolerated even when the piano was
closed; he was taciturn, always blandly smiling and bent in a servile
bow. Nevertheless, this was the principal of the conspirators and even
the viscount-baron treated him with some deference as representing a
formidable power.

One morning, Cesarine came over to the marchioness's and took advantage
of the drawing-room being open to be aired, to open the piano and
practice an aria which she had promised at the next soiree. There was
nothing but praise for her singing, and old, retired tenors and obese
soprani had assured her that she had but to have one hearing in the
Opera to be placed among the stars. The aged pianist had often listened
to her vocalism with enraptured gaze, and she believed he, too, was her
slave.

He had now glided into the room and upon the piano stool, and, as if by
magic divining her wish, silently opened the piece of music for which
she had been hunting. For the first time their eyes met without any
medium, for he had discarded the tinted spectacles he usually wore.
These were not the worn orbs of a man who had pored over crabbed
partitions for sixty years. They were eyes familiar to her.

"Major Von Sendlingen!" she exclaimed, in a kind of terror; for women,
being judges of duplicity, are alarmed by any one successful in
disguises.

"Precisely, but do not be alarmed. You struck me in warfare, and I
forgive your share in that paltry incident. I am your friend, now. By
the way, as a proof of that assertion, let me tell you that the viscount
is no more worthy of you than that ever-dreaming student. You think he
adores you? _pfui_! only so far as you will aid the realization of his
ambition. Besides, he is only an officer in our ranks; he is not
unbridled, and at any moment he may be ordered away. Renounce this kind
of love, my child, not durable and unendurable!"

Was this the major preaching? He who had held with the hare and run with
the hounds, that is, tried to win the ascending and the declining star!

"Tell me," he continued, seriously, "tell me when you can control your
heart, and it is I who will set you on that stage where you should have
figured long since."

She had turned pale and s