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By Root 922 0

that was rather different from Mr. Hannen's. It was almost as large, but nothing like as austere. The great black piano stood near the windows, and the furniture matched it, in size as well as elegance. Almost covering the walls were hundreds of photographs, all of celebrities so big that even Mildred had heard of some of them, and all inscribed personally to Mr. Treviso. That gentleman himself, clad in a gray suit with black piping on the waistcoat, received them as a ducal counselor might have received a pair of lesser ladies in waiting. A tall, thin Italian of perhaps fifty, with bony face and sombre eyes, he listened while Mildred explained what they had come for, then bowed coldly and waved them to seats. When Veda cut in with what Mildred had neglected to mention, that she had studied with Mr. Hannen, he became slightly less formal, struck a tragic pose and said: "Poor Charl'. Ah, poor, poor Charl'." Then he paid tribute to the Hannen tone, and said it marked him as a great artist, not merely as a pianist. Then, smiling a little, he permitted himself to reminisce. "I first know Char!', was in 1922. We make tour of Italy together, I play Respighi program wit' orchestr', Charl' play Tschaikowsky concerto. Was just after Mussolini come in, and Char!', 'e was afraid somebody make him drink castor hoi!. Was bad afraid. 'E buy gray spat, black 'at, learn Giovanezaz, change name to Annino, do ever' little t'ing to look like wop. So last concert, was in Turino. After concert, all go to little cafe, 'ave last drink, say good-bye. So concertmaster, 'e stand up, whole place is right away quiet. And concertmaster, 'e make little spich, tell how fine Charl' play Tschaikowsky concerto, say whole orchestr' want make Charl' little gift, express happreciation. 'E give Charl' big mahogany box, look like 'ave gold cup in it, somet'ing pretty nice. Charl', 'e make little spich too, say t'anks boys, sure is big surprise. 'E open box—was roll toilet paper!"

Mr. Treviso's smile had broadened into a grin, and his black eyes sparkled so brightly they almost glared. Mildred, whether because of the anecdote itself, or the recent death of its subject, or the realization that she was in the presence of a point of view completely alien to her, wasn't amused, though she smiled a little, to be polite. But Veda affected to think this was the funniest thing she had ever heard in her life, and egged Mr. Treviso on to more stories. He looked at his watch and said he would now listen to her play.

The Veda who sat down at the piano was a quite different Veda from the one who had so airily entertained Mr. Hannen three years ago. She was genuinely nervous, and it occured to Mildred that her encouragement to Mr. Treviso's story-telling might have been a stall for time. She thought a moment, then with grim face launched into a piece known to Mildred as the Brahms Rhapsody. Mildred didn't like it much. It went entirely too fast for her taste, except for a slow part in the middle, that sounded a little like a hymn. However, she sat back comfortably, waiting for the praise that Mr. Treviso would bestow, and that she would tell Ida about, that night.

Mr. Treviso wandered over to the window, and stood looking down at the street. When Veda got to the slow part, he half turned around, as though to say something, then didn't. All during the slow part he stared down at the street. When Veda crashed into the fast part again, he walked over and closed the piano, elaborately giving Veda time to get her hands out of the way. In the bellowing silence that followed, he went to the far corner of the studio and sat down, a ghastly smile on his face, as though he had been prepared for burial by an undertaker who specialized in pleasant expressions.

It was an appreciable interval before it dawned on Mildred what he had done, and why. Then she looked toward the piano to suggest that Veda play one of her slower pieces. But Veda was no longer there. She was at the door, pulling on her gloves, and before Mildred could say anything, she dived out the door. Mildred jumped