The Fifth String Page 3

  III

  Perkins called in the morning. Perkins was happy--Perkins waspositively joyous, and Perkins was self-satisfied. The violinist hadmade a great hit. But Perkins, confiding in the white-coated dispenserwho concocted his matin Martini, very dry, an hour before, said heregarded the success due as much to the management as to the artist.And Perkins believed it. Perkins usually took all the credit for asuccess, and with charming consistency placed all responsibility forfailure on the shoulders of the hapless artist.

  When Perkins entered Diotti's room he found the violinist heavy-eyedand dejected. "My dear Signor," he began, showing a large envelopebulging with newspaper clippings, "I have brought the notices. They arequite the limit, I assure you. Nothing like them ever heard before--alltuned in the same key, as you musical fellows would say," and Perkinscocked his eye.

  Perkins enjoyed a glorious reputation with himself for bright sayings,which he always accompanied with a cock of the eye. The musician notshowing any visible appreciation of the manager's metaphor, Perkinsimmediately 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 ontheir heads to-morrow night--see if we don't." Then he handed thebursting envelope of notices to Diotti, who listlessly put them on thetable at his side.

  "Too tired to read, eh?" said Perkins, and then with the advance-agentinstinct strong within him he selected a clipping, and touching theviolinist on the shoulder: "Let me read this one to you. It is by HerrTotenkellar. He is a hard nut to crack, but he did himself proud thistime. Great critic when he wants to be."

  Perkins cleared his throat and began: "Diotti combines tremendousfeeling with equally tremendous technique. The entire audience wasunder the witchery of his art." Diotti slowly negatived that statementwith bowed head. "His tone is full, round and clear; hisinterpretation lends a story-telling charm to the music; for, while wedrank deep at the fountain of exquisite melody, we saw sparkling withinthe 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 violinistarose 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.