indulgence of a few minutes before resuming her performance, there
was a general expostulation, so much had she endeared herself to
every heart. But the manager assured the audience that the lady
thanked them for their considerate kindness, but that she was
perfectly recovered, and preferred finishing the little that
remained of the opera. When she reappeared, the burning cheek and
glittering eye deceived many as to the suffering she endured. Her
gaze restlessly sought the figure that had caused her emotion, and
as she met the person's glance, a shudder passed over her. At first
her voice trembled with weakness, but meeting the mocking, sneering
triumph in that sarcastic face, the blood boiled in her veins, and
trembling with indignation, she startled the audience with the wild
burst of scorn she threw into the part she was representing. The
stranger at first turned pale with anger and surprise at the
surpassing delineation, but the next instant his eyes gleamed with
malicious satisfaction, which seemed to chafe the singer to madness.

At the conclusion of the opera, Teresa, with feverish impatience to
arrive at home, was hastily leaving the theatre, when she fancied
she saw in the front entrance doorway that Mephistophiles-like face,
and ordering the coachman to drive to her lodgings as speedily as
possible, threw herself back upon the cushions, and repressed a
strong inclination to take a certain individual's web of life out of
the hands of Fate. In a few minutes she arrived at the hotel, and
entering her parlor stood face to face with the stranger, who had
risen with the most easy coolness, and advanced to meet her.

"Mille pardons m'amie, for the intrusion, but I have not seen you so
long, that I was quite unable to resist the temptation of a call."