hideous old foreign woman who completely lost her head. She smacked her
hands distractedly; she called on the saints (without producing the
slightest effect)--but she mixed up a name, remarkable even in Italy,
with the rest of the delirium; and _that_ was serious. Put yourself in
Mrs. Gallilee's place--"

"I couldn't do it," said Mr. Le Frank, with humility.

Miss Minerva passed over this reply without notice. Perhaps she was not
a believer in the humility of musicians.

"The young lady's Christian name," she proceeded, "is Carmina; (put the
accent, if you please, on the _first_ syllable). The moment Mrs.
Gallilee heard the name, it struck her like a blow. She enlightened the
old woman, and asserted herself as Miss Carmina's aunt in an instant.
'I am Mrs. Gallilee:' that was all she said. The result"--Miss Minerva
paused, and pointed to the ceiling; "the result is up there. Our
charming guest was on the sofa, and the hideous old nurse was fanning
her, when I had the honour of seeing them just now. No, Mr. Le Frank! I
haven't done yet. There is a last act in this drama of private life
still to relate. A medical gentleman was present at the concert, who
offered his services in reviving Miss Carmina. The same gentleman is
now in attendance on the interesting patient. Can you guess who he is?"

Mr. Le Frank had sold a ticket for his concert to the medical adviser
of the family--one Mr. Null. A cautious guess in this direction seemed
to offer the likeliest chance of success.

"He is a patron of music," the pianist began.