She is so full of imagination, this statue of Nino's, that she heard the notes echoing after her by day and night, till she thought she must go mad unless she could hear the reality again.

As the great solemn statue of Egyptian Memnon murmurs sweet, soft sounds to its mighty self at sunrise, a musical whisper in the desert, so the pure white marble of Nino's living statue vibrated with strange harmonies all the day long.
One night, as Nino walked homeward with De Pretis, who had come to supper with us, he induced the maestro to go out of his way at least half a mile, to pass the Palazzo Carmandola.

It was a still night, not over-cold for December, and there were neither stars nor moon.
As they passed the great house Nino saw a light in Hedwig's sitting-room--the room where he gave her the lessons.

It was late, and she must be alone.

On a sudden he stopped.
"What is the matter ?" asked De Pretis.
For all answer, Nino, standing in the dark street below, lifted up his voice and sang the first notes of the air he always associated with his beautiful contessina.