human
I value them highly, said the banker,
gpt
Mildred, my dear, I do not wonder at the enormous success of this Diotti.
human
He is a wonderful artist, replied Mildred;
gpt
He is a good-looking young fellow, too,
human
I think he is the handsomest man I ever have seen,
gpt
Where does he come from?
human
St. Casciano, a small town in Tuscany.
gpt
Has he a family?
human
Only a sister, whom he loves dearly,
gpt
And no one else?
human
None that I have heard him speak of. No, certainly not,
gpt
How old is he?
human
Twenty-eight next month; why do you wish to know?
gpt
Simply idle curiosity, old Sanders carelessly replied.
human
I wonder if he is in love with any one in Tuscany?
gpt
Of course not; how could he be?
human
And why not?
gpt
Why? Because, because--he is in love with some one in America.
human
Ah, with you, I see, said the old man, as if it were the greatest discovery of his life;
gpt
What a foolish question, she replied.
human
Men like Angelo Diotti do not fall in love as soldiers fall in line. Love to a man of his nobility is too serious to be treated so lightly.
gpt
Very true, and that's what has excited my curiosity!
human
Excited your curiosity! said Mildred.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
It may be something; it may be nothing; but my speculative instinct has been aroused by a strange peculiarity in his playing.
gpt
His playing is wonderful!
human
Aye, more than wonderful! I watched him intently, said the old man;
gpt
I noted with what marvelous facility he went from one string to the other. But however rapid, however difficult the composition, he steadily avoided one string; in fact, that string remained untouched during the entire hour he played for us.
human
Perhaps the composition did not call for its use,
gpt
Perhaps so, but the oddity impressed me; it was a new string to me. I have never seen one like it on a violin before.
human
That can scarcely be, for I do not remember of Signor Diotti telling me there was anything unusual about his violin.
gpt
I am sure it has a fifth string.
human
And I am equally sure the string can be of no importance or Angelo would have told me of it,
gpt
He composed a love scene for two strings, the 'E' and 'G,' the first was to personate the lady, the second himself. It commenced with a species of dialogue, intending to represent her indifference and his passion; now sportive, now sad; laughter on her part and tears from him, ending in an apotheosis of loving reconciliation. It affected the lady to that degree that ever after she loved the violinist.
human
And no doubt they were happy?
gpt
Yes, said the old man, with assumed sentiment,
human
Perhaps the string that's mute upon Diotti's violin is mute for some such reason.
gpt
Nonsense,
human
The string is black and glossy as the tresses that fall in tangled skeins on the shoulders of the dreamy beauties of Tuscany. It may be an idle fancy, but if that string is not a woven strand from some woman's crowning glory, then I have no discernment.
gpt
You are jesting, uncle,
human
Ask him to play on that string; I'll wager he'll refuse,
gpt
He will not refuse when I ask him, but I will not to-night, answered the unhappy girl, with forced determination. Then, taking the old man's hands, she said:
human
Good-night, I am going to my room; please make my excuses to Signor Diotti and father,
gpt
No need to worry; she will be all right in the morning,