He sang." "He sang ?" cried Nino, with an affectation of alarm.

"I must tell the maestro not to let him sing in the open air; he will lose his voice." "Who is his master ?" asked Hedwig, suddenly.
"I cannot remember the name just now," said Nino, looking away.

"But I will find out, if you wish." He was afraid of putting De Pretis to any inconvenience by saying that the young singer was his pupil.
"However," he continued, "you will hear him sing as often as you please, after he makes his _debut_ next month." He sighed when he thought that it would all so soon be over.

For how could he disguise himself any longer, when he should be singing in public every night?
But Hedwig clapped her hands.
"So soon ?" she cried.

"Then there will be an end of the mystery." "Yes," said Nino, gravely "there will be an end of the mystery." "At least you can tell me his name, now that we shall all know it." "Oh, his name--his name is Cardegna, like mine.