being questioned. "Come, what say you?"

"I am willing to better my condition, sir, and as for being humble
in my manners, few are otherwise who have their living to earn,"
replied the maiden, with a touch of haughtiness.

"Then come with me," said Cartillos, leading the way to the house he
had quitted a short time previous. When they were seated, the
manager commenced questioning his companion.

"It is rather a singular thing for a street musician to sing such
songs as you do, and in such a manner,"--then, after a pause, during
which she did not volunteer any information on the subject, he
renewed the attack, with, "You must have had some instruction. Who
was your teacher?"

"A countryman," was the reply.

Baffled in this direction, Cartillos commenced in a fresh quarter.

"You are an Italian, I suppose?"

"I am."

"Of what part are you a native?"

"Before I came to Havana, I resided in Naples."

The manager bit his lip at the small amount of information he
obtained, and commenced again.