I will not answer for what you do with it." His voice sounded kindly, for he was so much pleased.

Then he made Nino sing again, a little love song of Tosti, who writes for the heart and sings so much better without a voice than all your stage tenors put together.

And the maestro looked long at Nino when he had done, but he did not say anything.

Nino put on his hat gloomily enough, and prepared to go.
"I will take the guitar, if you will lend it to me," he said.
"Yes, if you like, and I will give you a handkerchief to wrap it up with," said De Pretis, absently, but he did not get up from his seat.
He was watching Nino, and he seemed to be thinking.

Just as the boy was going with the instrument under his arm he called him back.
"Ebbene ?" said Nino, with his hand on the lock of the door.
"I will make you a song to sing to your guitar," said Ercole.
"You ?" "Yes--but without music.