He pointed to an adjoining room, into which both had scarcely entered, before the Doctor continued in a somewhat sharp tone-- "Signora Biancona was right: that is, according to your performance. My attack was directed against the composition as it exists in the original. May I ask where you found this very peculiar arrangement of it? Until this moment it was quite unknown to me." "How do you mean, Herr Doctor?" asked the young man, coolly. "I only know the piece of music in that form." Welding looked him up and down, an expression of annoyance struggled with one of undisguised interest in his face, as he replied-- "You appear to gauge the musical knowledge of your audience quite correctly, if you venture to offer them such things. They hear the air, and are contented; but sometimes there are exceptions. For instance, it would interest me very much to know from whom certain variations emanate, which utterly change the character of the whole; and as regards the finale, entirely; was this daring improvisation, perhaps, the attempt of an amateur also?" Almbach raised his head somewhat defiantly, "And if it were, what should you say to it?" "That it was a great mistake of your people to make you a merchant." "Herr Doctor, we are in a merchant's house." "Certainly," answered Welding, calmly, "and I am the last to depreciate that class, especially when, like our host, it begins with earnest, ceaseless work, and ends in reposing on millions; but it does not suit all. Above everything, it requires a clear, cool head, and yours does not appear to me to be quite made to devote itself to the grasping debit and credit. Excuse me, Herr Almbach! that is only my candid opinion; besides, I do not blame you at all for your daring. What would one not do to make a beautiful woman's obstinacy appear right! In this case, the man[oe]uvre was even _most agreeable_, any other person with the best will could not have carried it out; I congratulate you upon it." He made a half-ironical bow, and left the room; it adjoined the drawing-room, but the half-closed _portières_ divided it from the former; quite lonely and dimly-lighted, it offered a momentary solitude to whomsoever desired it. The young man had thrown himself upon a seat, and gazed dreamily before him. Of what he was thinking, perhaps he did not dare to confess to himself, and yet it was betrayed by his starting up at the sound of a voice, which said in a tone of slight astonishment-- "Ah, Signor Almbach, you here!" It was Signora Biancona; whether, on entering, she had really not perceived who was already there, could not be decided, as she continued with perfect ease-- "I was seeking relief for a moment from the heat and whirl of the drawing-room. You, too, have soon withdrawn from the company after your triumph."