On and on, the same everlasting chord, till Nino thought he must go mad.
"It is intolerable; for the love of heaven, stop!" he cried, pushing back his chair and beginning to pace the room.

Benoni only smiled, and went on as unchangingly as ever.

Nino could bear it no longer, being very sensitive about sounds, and he made for the door.
"You cannot get out,--I have the key in my pocket," said Benoni, without stopping.
Then Nino became nearly frantic, and made at the Jew to wrest the instrument from his hands.

But Benoni was agile, and eluded him, still playing vigorously the one chord, till Nino cried aloud, and sank in a chair, entirely overcome by the torture, that seemed boring its way into his brain like a corkscrew.
"This," said Benoni, the bow still sawing the strings, "is life without laughter.

Now let us laugh a little, and see the effect." It was indeed wonderful.