"It will spoil the set. Listen. Some one is at the speaking-tube."
The singer crossed the room impatiently. Ordinarily she would have continued the dispute, whether the bell rang or not. But she was getting the worst of the argument and the bell was a timely diversion. The duke followed her leisurely to the wall.
The voice below answered with a query in English. "Is this the Signorina Desimone?"
She turned and stared at the duke, who shrugged. "No, no," she said; "the duchess, not the devil."
"Pardon me; I was astonished. But on the stage you are still Flora Desimone?"
"Yes. And now that my identity is established, who are you and what do you want at this time of night?"
The duke touched her arm to convey that this was not the moment in which to betray her temper.
The duke looked at her perplexedly. It seemed to him that she was always leaving him in the middle of things. Preparing himself for rough roads, he would suddenly find the going smooth. He was never swift enough mentally to follow these flying transitions from enmity to amity. In the present instance, how was he to know that his tigress had found in the man below something to play with?
"You once did me an ill turn," came up the tube. "I desire that you make some reparation."
"Sainted Mother! but it has taken you a long time to find out that I have injured you," she mocked.
There was no reply to this; so she was determined to stir the fire a little.
"And I advise you to be careful what you say; the duke is a very jealous man."
That gentleman fingered his beard thoughtfully.
The duke coughed loudly close to the tube.
"The least you can do, Madame, is to give me her address."
"Her address!" repeated the duke relievedly. He had had certain grave doubts, but these now took wing. Old flames were not in the habit of asking, nay, demanding, other women's addresses.
"I am speaking to Madame, your Highness," came sharply.
"We do not speak off the stage," said the singer, pushing the duke aside.
"I should like to make that young man's acquaintance," whispered the duke.
Came the voice again: "Will you give me her address, please? Your messenger gave me your address, inferring that you wished to see me."
"I?" There was no impeaching her astonishment.