the fifth string(第五根线)-第2章
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and discernment。
When the violinist appeared for his solo； he quietly acknowledged the
cordial reception of the audience； and immediately proceeded with the
business of the evening。 At a slight nod from him the conductor rapped
attention； then launched the orchestra into the introduction of the concerto；
Diotti's favorite； selected for the first number。 As the violinist turned to the
conductor he faced slightly to the left and in a direct line with the second
proscenium box。 His poise was admirable。 He was handsome； with the
olive…tinted warmth of his southern homefairly tall； straight… limbed and
lithea picture of poetic grace。 His was the face of a man who trusted
without reserve； the manner of one who believed implicitly； feeling that
good was universal and evil accidental。
As the music grew louder and the orchestra approached the peroration
of the preface of the coming solo； the violinist raised his head slowly。
Suddenly his eyes met the gaze of the solitary occupant of the second
proscenium box。 His face flushed。 He looked inquiringly； almost
appealingly； at her。 She sat immovable and serene； a lace…framed vision in
white。
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It was she who； since he had met her； only the night before； held his
very soul in thraldom。
He lifted his bow； tenderly placing it on the strings。 Faintly came the
first measures of the theme。 The melody； noble； limpid and beautiful；
floated in dreamy sway over the vast auditorium； and seemed to cast a
mystic glamour over the player。 As the final note of the first movement
was dying away； the audience； awakening from its delicious trance； broke
forth into spontaneous bravos。
Mildred Wallace； scrutinizing the program； merely drew her wrap
closer about her shoulders and sat more erect。 At the end of the concerto
the applause was generous enough to satisfy the most exacting virtuoso。
Diotti unquestionably had scored the greatest triumph of his career。 But
the lady in the box had remained silent and unaffected throughout。
The poor fellow had seen only her dur… ing the time he played； and the
mighty cheers that came from floor and galleries struck upon his ear like
the echoes of mocking demons。 Leaving the stage he hurried to his
dressing…room and sank into a chair。 He had persuaded himself she should
not be insensible to his genius； but the dying ashes of his hopes； his
dreams； were smouldering； and in his despair came the thought： ‘‘I am not
great enough for her。 I am but a man； her consort should be a god。 Her
soul； untouched by human passion or human skill； demands the power of
god…like genius to arouse it。''
Music lovers crowded into his dressing… room； enthusiastic in their
praises。 Cards conveying delicate compliments written in delicate
chirography poured in upon him； but in vain he looked for some sign；
some word from her。
Quickly he left the theater and sought his hotel。
A menacing cloud obscured the wintry moon。 A clock sounded the
midnight hour。
He threw himself upon the bed and almost sobbed his thoughts； and
their burden was：
‘‘I am not great enough for her。 I am but a man。 I am but a man！''
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The Fifth String
III
Perkins called in the morning。 Perkins was happyPerkins was
positively joyous； and Perkins was self… satisfied。 The violinist had made a
great hit。 But Perkins； confiding in the white…coated dispenser who
concocted his matin Martini； very dry； an hour before； said he regarded the
success due as much to the management as to the artist。 And Perkins
believed it。 Perkins usually took all the credit for a success； and with
charming consistency placed all responsibility for failure on the shoulders
of the hapless artist。
When Perkins entered Diotti's room he found the violinist heavy…eyed
and dejected。 ‘‘My dear Signor；'' he began； showing a large envelope
bulging with newspaper clippings； ‘‘I have brought the notices。 They are
quite the limit； I assure you。 Nothing like them ever heard beforeall
tuned in the same key； as you musical fellows would say；'' and Perkins
cocked his eye。
Perkins enjoyed a glorious reputation with himself for bright sayings；
which he always accompanied with a cock of the eye。 The musician not
showing any visible appreciation of the manager's metaphor； Perkins
immediately proceeded to uncock his eye。
‘‘Passed the box…office coming up；'' continued this voluble enlightener；
‘‘nothing left but a few seats in the top gallery。 We'll stand them on their
heads to…morrow nightsee if we don't。'' Then he handed the bursting
envelope of notices to Diotti； who listlessly put them on the table at his
side。
‘‘Too tired to read； eh？'' said Perkins； and then with the advance…agent
instinct strong within him he selected a clipping； and touching the violinist
on the shoulder： ‘‘Let me read this one to you。 It is by Herr Totenkellar。
He is a hard nut to crack； but he did himself proud this time。 Great critic
when he wants to be。''
Perkins cleared his throat and began： ‘‘Diotti combines tremendous
feeling with equally tremendous technique。 The entire audience was under
the witchery of his art。'' Diotti slowly negatived that statement with bowed
head。 ‘‘His tone is full； round and clear； his interpretation lends a story…
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telling charm to the music； for； while we drank deep at the fountain of
exquisite melody； we saw sparkling within the waters the lights of
Paradise。 New York never has heard his equal。 He stands alone； pre…
eminent； an artistic giant。''
‘‘Now； that's what I call great；'' said the impresario； dramatically；
‘‘when you hit Totenkellar that way you are good for all kinds of money。''
Perkins took his hat and cane and moved toward the door。 The violinist
arose and extended his hand wearily。 ‘‘Good…day'' came simultaneously；
then ‘‘I'm off。 We'll turn 'em away to…morrow； see if we don't！''
Whereupon Perkins left Diotti alone in his misery。
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IV
It was the evening of the fourteenth； In front of the Academy a strong…
lunged and insistent tribe of gentry； known as ticket speculators； were
reaping a rich harvest。 They represented a beacon light of hope to many
tardy patrons of the evening's entertainment； especially to the man who
had forgotten his wife's injunction ‘‘to be sure to buy the tickets on the
way down town； dear； and get them in the family circle； not too far back。''
This man's intentions were sincere； but his newspaper was unusually
interesting that morning。 He was deeply engrossed in an article on the
causes leading to matrimonial infelicities when his 'bus passed the
Academy box…office。
He was six blocks farther down town when he finished the article； only
to find that it was a carefully worded advertisement for a new patent
medicine； and of course he had not time to return。 ‘‘Oh； well；'' said he；
‘‘I'll get them when I go up town to…night。''
But he did not。 So with fear in his heart and a red…faced woman on his
arm he approached the box…office。 ‘‘Not a seat left；'' sounded to his hen…
pecked ears like the concluding words of the black…robed judge： ‘‘and may
the Lord have mercy upon your soul。'' But a reprieve came； for one of the
aforesaid beacon lights of hope rushed forward； saying： ‘‘I have two good
seats； not far back； and only ten apiece。'' And the gentleman with fear in
his heart and the red…faced woman on his arm passed in。
They saw the largest crowd in the history of the Academy。 Every seat
was occupied； every foot of standing room taken。 Chairs were placed in
the side aisles。 The programs announced that it was the second appearance
in America of Angelo Diotti； the renowed Tuscan violinist。
The orchestra had perfunctorily ground out the overture to ‘‘Der
Freischuetz；'' the baritone had stentorianly emitted ‘‘Dio Possente；'' the
soprano was working her way through the closing measures of the mad
scene from ‘‘Lucia；'' and Diotti was number four on the program。 The
conductor stood beside his platform； ready to ascend as Diotti appeared。
The audience； ever ready to act when those on the stage cease that
occupation； gave a splendid imitation of the historic last scene at the
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The Fifth String
Tower of Babel。 Having accomplished this to its evident satisfaction； the
audience proceeded； like the closing phrase of the ‘‘Goetterdaemmerung''
Dead March； to become exceedingly quietthen expectant。
This expectancy lasted fully three minutes。 Then there were some
impatient handclappings。 A few persons whispered： ‘‘Why is he late？''
‘‘Why doesn't he come？'' ‘‘I wonder where Diotti is；'' and then came
unmistakable signs of impatience。 At its height Perkins appeared；
hesitatingly。 Nervous and jerky he walked to the center of the stage； and
raised his hand begging silence。 The audience was stilled。
‘‘Ladies and gentlemen；'' he falteringly said
