Part 36 (2/2)
His own rooms in New York were echoing with the same song, when Bobby Dane entered them, the next Sat.u.r.day night.
”Well, at least, you don't sound broken-hearted,” he observed, as he took off his coat.
”The sight of you would go far to cure me, if I were,” Thayer retorted.
His words were light; but his face and his grip on Bobby's two hands contradicted his tone.
”Glad of it,” Bobby said flatly. ”But tell me about Beatrix. How did the poor girl stand it?”
”Like herself,” Thayer answered. ”It was enough to shake the nerves of the Winged Victory; but Mrs. Lorimer went through it like a heroine.”
”It was D.T.?”
”Yes.”
”It was better that you kept the secret,” Bobby said thoughtfully, as he dropped into a chair by the piano. He sat silent for a moment while, bending forward, he idly picked out the first few notes of the cavatina on the lowest octave of the ba.s.s. Then he added, ”I don't see how you managed it, Thayer; but it is a good deed done. Was there any trouble about the certificate?”
”No. It was heart failure, true enough, and there was no need to go into secondary causes.”
”I am glad the doctor was a man of sense. If he had been a martinet, it would have been worse for us all. Of course, there is no telling how far people will accept the story; but we may as well try to act as if it were true.” There was a pause. Then Bobby inquired, ”Well, and now what are you going to do next?”
”_Valentine_ in _Faust_,” Thayer replied briefly.
”The deuce you are! When?”
”Next Wednesday.”
Bobby's face fell.
”Oh, I wanted you, myself, for that day. Isn't it rather sudden?”
”So sudden that I didn't half realize it, till I found myself at rehearsal, this morning. It is to be announced in to-morrow's papers, I suppose. Not even Arlt knows it yet.”
Bobby meditated for the s.p.a.ce of several seconds.
”Thayer, I am delighted,” he said then. ”I was so afraid your stopping now might mean a permanent break-up in your work. Now you are going into your right field at last. You've been too large for oratorio; you fill altogether too much s.p.a.ce, and crowd out the chorus. You need a whole stage to ramp around in. Moreover, if I have any idea what Gounod meant, he had your voice in mind, when he created the part. Go in, and you are sure to win; and not a soul in the city will be gladder of it than I.”
Thayers face softened. His life, successful as it was, had been singularly barren of endearments, and Bobby's words touched him keenly.
Heretofore, only Arlt had manifested any personal interest in his successes, and Arlt was a true German, chary of his words. Thayer held out his hand to Bobby.
”Thank you, Dane. I believe you,” he said.
There was a short silence. Then Thayer added suddenly,--
”What did you want of me for Wednesday?”
Again Bobby's face clouded, and he laughed uneasily.
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