Peyton—it was too commonplace—Elise Koller was much more striking. And then she was uncertain whether to sing or not. She had tried hard to keep that stage episode secret, and she was afraid if she sang, that something might betray her. She glanced at Ahlberg, as much as to say, "Shall I?" but Ahlberg maintained a sphinx-like gravity. But the temptation was too great. Olivia's playing was pretty for an amateur—but Madame Koller despised the best amateur performance as only a true professional can. Therefore she rose and went to the piano, and turned over some of the ballads there. She pretended to be looking at them, but she was not.
"Louis," she said to Ahlberg, who was twisting his waxed mustache. He came at once and seated himself at the piano.
"What do you think of "Caro nome?" she asked.
"Very good. You always sung the Rigoletto music well."
Madame Koller was not pleased at this slip—but at all events, nobody but herself understood it in the sense that Ahlberg meant.
Ahlberg struck a few chords, and Madame Koller begun from memory the celebrated aria. As she sang, Colonel Berkeley opened his sharp old eyes very wide indeed. This was not the kind of music often heard in drawing rooms. He glanced at Pembroke, to see if he was astonished. That young gentleman only leaned back in the sofa corner near the fire to better enjoy this delicious singing. Olivia's
