Her tone said, "You must stay!" Selva said that he had, indeed, intended to remain, and the expression of his voice, of his face, was such as to acquaint Jeanne with the fact that sad words, not yet spoken, were weighing on his heart.

Oh! thought Jeanne, what if Chieco should leave now, and Carlino call?
Then it would not be possible for us to speak together! For she also had something to say to Selva.

She must repeat the Minister's discourse to him.

The two musicians had once more ceased playing, and were talking.

Jeanne knocked softly on the door, and blew a few gay words against it: "_Bravi!_ Have you finished already ?" "No, pretty one," Chieco answered from the other side.