The relations between the handsome singer and the new Director, so
pleasantly established on the night of the Countess Golitzine's
concert, progressed very smoothly. La Belle Quero was unwontedly
gentle and submissive in her acceptance of any professional
suggestions from the handsome young Italian.
It was the general gossip that she was a good deal in love with
Corsini, and wavering in her allegiance to the masterful and
tyrannical Prince. Nello himself took the situation very calmly. In
the first place, Madame Quero was a married woman; to fall in love
with her, were he so disposed, would be hopeless, unless he resolved
to risk a scandal that might adversely affect their respective
careers.
And more important still, although he felt for her a quite warm
friendship, he was not the least in love. Her full and opulent beauty
possessed little attraction for him.
Although at present he did not fully realise the fact, the serene
loveliness of the young Princess Nada, combined with her girlish
_esprit_, her air of rank and position, had cast a spell over him that
he could not shake off. She would always be the lady of his dreams,
although by the exigencies of their different stations, he would be
compelled to worship her in secret and from afar.
She was surrounded with the halo of birth and great position. Madame
Quero, although a woman of genius and considerable brain power, had
sprung from the peasant class. Her husband, whom she had married when
little more than a child, had been a poor fisherman. She made him a
handsome allowance, on the condition that he never intruded his rights
nor exposed her to the annoyance of his presence.
Her glorious voice had lifted her from grinding poverty and obscurity,
her quick mentality had enabled her to acquire much, to adapt herself,
with more than fair success, to her new environment. But certain
traces of her humble origin showed themselves very plainly at times,
especially in moments of excitement--vulgarity of gesture, some common
terms of speech, picked up from the gutter where she had played with
other bare-footed children like herself.
To a man of Corsini's naturally refined and elevated temperament,
these unconscious revelations came as a disturbing shock. And the more
intimate he became with her, the more frequently she revealed herself,
having no longer occasion to wear a protecting mask.
In a palace or a fashionable drawing-room, with that careful mask on,
La Belle Quero was one personage, most careful as to speech and
manner. In her dressing-room, or in familiar intercourse with a fellow
artist, not of the great world, only belonging to the aristocracy of
talent, she was quite another being, with the solecisms, the
occasional coarse flashes of humor, of the Biscayan peasant.
No; although La Belle Quero was so much nearer to him from the social
point of view, for his origin had not been so much more distinguished
than her own, he could not feel fascinated, in spite of her obvious
liking for him.
Golitzine, who had spies everywhere, in the dressing-rooms of
actresses, in the boudoirs of great ladies, knew all there was to know
about the friendship of the conductor and the _prima donna_. Was
Corsini taking advantage of his opportunities to acquire the woman's
confidence, so that it might serve his employer's interest?
But Corsini was only being used as a pawn in the game. He did not even
know that he was being used even in this humble capacity. He must have
guessed that there were some subtle motives behind this sudden and
unexpected preferment; but how could he possibly guess what these
motives were?
If the young Italian was going to be made really useful, he would have
to be enlightened. Salmoros, in his letter, had made a point of his
being kept in the dark, fearful probably of some scruples on his part
on being told that he was to play the _role_ of a spy.
He, Golitzine, was loath to go against the advice of Salmoros, but
astute and shrewd as the financier was, he could not have thought out
the situation with his usual judgment. The time had certainly arrived
when Corsini must be told frankly the part he was expected to play.
After all, there was nothing in the least dishonourable in what he
would be asked to do. Salmoros and the Count between them, with the
sanction of the Emperor, had set him on the high road to fame and
fortune. Their enemies were a band of traitors, headed by Zouroff,
assisted by Madame Quero. He must and would, in honour bound, prove
his allegiance to his benefactors.
Having made up his mind, it was not long before the energetic Count
summoned the young Italian to a private interview in the Winter
Palace. As on the previous occasion, the same tall stranger was
present, lounging about the room--the stranger in whom Nello was later
on to discover the Czar of all the Russias.
Golitzine did not introduce them, but he made a brief allusion. "We
are going to have a rather confidential conversation, Signor, but you
can speak freely before this gentleman. He is perfectly in my
confidence."
Nello bowed, feeling a little embarrassed. He would have been more at
his ease if the tall stranger had not been present.
The Count proceeded in his smooth, conciliatory accents. "I hear very
flattering accounts, so far, of your directorship. You have excited
less envy than I expected, under the rather unusual circumstances.
And you have also won some golden opinions. I am told that Madame
Quero, in particular, has distinguished you with a somewhat marked
friendship. And she is reported to be a rather difficult woman to get
on with. I know our late Director found her so, to his frequent
annoyance."
Nello blushed deeply. He was very sensitive, and it vexed him to find
that his friendship with the handsome Spanish woman had been already
commented on. If these comments had reached Golitzine, they had
probably also reached the Princess Zouroff and her daughter.
"The relations between Madame Quero and myself are, I am pleased to
say, most cordial. Being the most distinguished member of the company,
as she certainly is, it insures smooth working all round," answered
the young Italian.
"Quite, quite," assented the suave Count. "Of course you have many
opportunities of meeting and chatting. I hear that our friend, Prince
Zouroff, is much chagrined that the charming lady in question is
friendly with you. You have met the Prince, I presume. I should like
to know your real opinion--of course in the strictest confidence."
The flush on Corsini's face deepened. He had met the Prince now on
several occasions at different houses in the city, and that arrogant
nobleman had always treated him with marked _hauteur_, hardly taking
the trouble to acknowledge his polite salutation.
"I should say, your Excellency, that he is sadly deficient in the
common courtesies of life."
There was a subdued laugh from the man in civilian clothes, standing
in the bay window. He turned round for a second and exchanged a
meaning glance with the Count. Golitzine knew what that glance was
intended to convey. "There was no love lost between these two."
"I think, Signor Corsini, you have very pithily defined our friend's
deficiencies. If he could have controlled his somewhat brutal
impulses and acquired a little more polish, he might have advanced
farther in his career than now seems possible."
There was a brief pause, which was broken by the Count.
"In the course of these chats with Madame Quero, I dare say you learn
a good deal of her general habits. Women are apt to get confidential
with an agreeable male friend. I expect she has told you of those
secret little parties to which only men are admitted, which she has at
her villa?"
"I swear to your Excellency that to me she has never breathed a word
of them."
"I quite believe you, Signor. There is good reason why she should keep
silence. Her last party was on Saturday night. The next time you are
chatting with her, just mention it in a casual way, and ask her why
she does not include you, the Director of the Opera, in her intimate
circle?"
"I will certainly do so, Count," replied Nello just a little piqued at
the information he had received. It was strange that Madame Quero had
never invited him to one of these, presumably, select parties.
"By the way," added the Count. "If she should ask you where you got
your information from I must request you not to mention my name.
Refuse to satisfy her curiosity. I have special reasons for this."
Nello promised that he would obey the Count's injunction, and rose to
leave, under the impression that the interview was ended. But
Golitzine waved him to his seat.
"Just a few moments more, Signor Corsini. I want to take you a little
farther into my confidence. We all agree that you are a very capable
artist, but I suppose you may sometimes have wondered why your way in
this country has been made so very easy; why, in short, your success
has been so rapid."
"It has occurred to me many times, your Excellency, but I did not like
to ask directly for an explanation," replied the young violinist
quietly. "I thought that would come at the proper time and place. Am I
correct in assuming that I am to be given it now?"
"It shall be given you now," answered the Count in an equally equable
voice. "And I am going to speak very plainly, Signor Corsini. Salmoros
admired your talent greatly; he told me that in a private letter, and
he wished to push you for reason of that; but he also perceived in you
different qualities that would serve his own purposes--purposes which
are closely associated with the welfare of the Russian Empire."
The Count suddenly rose and waved his hand in the direction of the
silent man, lounging in the bay window.
"I am going to make a somewhat dramatic introduction. I present Signor
Corsini, the protege of Baron Salmoros, to the Emperor Alexander
himself, who has been a silent witness of our interview."
Corsini rose and bowed profoundly. Unused to the atmosphere of courts,
he was bewildered as to the exact etiquette on such occasions. Ought
he to kneel and kiss the Emperor's hand? He had a hazy notion he had
read somewhere that this was the prescribed ritual.
The Emperor put an end to his embarrassment by advancing and holding
out to him that strong hand which could bend a horse-shoe between its
fingers.
"I am delighted to welcome you, Signor. Salmoros has vouched for you.
Our good friend, Golitzine, who is a keen judge of men, assures me
that you are loyal and true to those who befriend you, as we have
done."
"My services, for what they are worth, are entirely at your Majesty's
disposal," answered Corsini fervently. It was but natural he should be
a little overcome by the gracious condescension of such a high
personage. He was not even petty enough to be chagrined by the
discovery that his sudden advancement was not due solely to his
artistic genius.
The Emperor, having said just what was needful, retired to the
seclusion of his bay window. The astute Count resumed the
conversation.
"I trust, Signor Corsini, there are no reservations in your
expressions of loyalty to those who have advanced and befriended you?"
"I am afraid I do not quite follow your Excellency."
"Tut, tut, my good young friend. I am quite sure we shall understand
each other very quickly. La Belle Quero, according to report, is very
enamoured of you--an artist like herself, a handsome and presentable
young man; vastly, in my opinion, superior to the brutal Zouroff. Now,
this important thing is--what are your sentiments towards her?"
Nello's answer was very frank. "I have grown to look upon her simply
as a kind and good friend."
Golitzine drew a breath of relief. It was as he had hoped. The young
musician had placed his fancy on one far removed from him, by rank and
position. The comparatively coarse charm of the handsome singer could
not compete with the youthful beauty of the Princess Nada. A benign
expression stole over his lined face.
"And if you knew that Madame Quero was taking advantage of the
hospitality of this country, of her apparently neutral position, to
conspire and plot with his Majesty's sworn enemies, you would be hand
and glove with us to find out what you could in order to frustrate her
designs?"
"Assuredly, your Excellency." Nello had started from his seat and
spoken with fervour. "My duty and my allegiance is to the Emperor,
yourself, and the Baron Salmoros. Madame Quero, good friend as I
believed her to be, counts as nothing."
"That is precisely what I want to be assured of," said the Count.
"Now, Signor, put that question I suggested to Madame Quero. It may be
she will tell you a deliberate lie. It may be she will seek to
entangle you in this plot, and make you one of the conspirators as the
price of her favour. I should prefer that, but I think she is too
clever to do it. Anyway, report to me how things go, which way they
go. And I rely upon it, that you are a faithful servant of the House
of Romanoff."
Nello assured him that he was, and returned to his hotel full of
thought.
So this was what the apparently benevolent Salmoros had secured him
for, to be a spy of the Russian Government. At first he felt a little
indignant. La Belle Quero might be a traitress, a conspirator, but was
it his mission to unmask her?
Then his shrewd Latin sense came to his aid. Whatever their ulterior
motives, his powerful friends had incidentally helped him, and his
bounden duty was to them. If the handsome Spanish woman, who should
have no part or lot in the political concerns of Russia, had chosen to
mix herself up with a lot of base intriguers, that was her business.
It was, after all, diamond cut diamond.
Perhaps he was the more impelled to the cause which the wily Golitzine
had urged him to take, by the rumour in the circles where he chiefly
mixed that the names of Prince Zouroff and La Belle Quero were
generally coupled together. It was currently reported that as soon as
the beautiful singer could get a divorce from her complacent
fisherman, she would marry the Prince. But in Roman Catholic countries
divorce is not easily to be obtained, and the fascinating Madame Quero
was still united to the lover of her youth. And according to further
rumour, Zouroff was not inclined to hurry matters on. As a matter of
fact, he was much more interested in other things. Perhaps, also, the
lady was not quite so keen as formerly.
So Nello resolved to play his part, the part that it was his bounden
duty to play. If the Spanish woman and her confederates were playing a
low-down game, he was playing a straight one by outwitting them, in
the interests of the Imperial House which had shown him such
remarkable favour.
That night the two met, as Madame Quero was going to her
dressing-room. She had sung better than ever that evening, never had
she aroused greater enthusiasm. Her eyes were sparkling, her cheeks
were glowing with triumph. She met Corsini's cold glance, and her
smile faded away.
"You do not seem very amiable to-night, Signor. Have I had the
misfortune to offend you in any way?"
The appealing look she darted at him was certainly that of a woman
more or less in love. For a moment, Nello felt a little ashamed of the
part he had to play; it seemed cowardly to hurt a woman. But after
all, his duty was to his benefactors, and if she was the traitress
they alleged she deserved no mercy.
Nello bowed, but made no immediate response. He was on the point of
moving away, when she laid a detaining hand upon his arm.
"Stay, I beseech you! Why are you so cold? I have sung better than
ever to-night, and yet you offer me no word of congratulation. Many a
time, when I have sung badly, you have been profuse of your praises,
and I thought we were such good friends!"
Nello saw his opportunity at once. "I used to think, Madame, that we
were very good friends."
"And has anything happened to alter your previous opinion?" inquired
Madame Quero in a faltering voice.
Again the young Italian made a movement to pass on, and again the
impetuous woman detained him.
"If you please, we will not leave it where it is, with studied
coldness on your part. Please tell me how I have offended you."
Nello spoke with exaggerated courtesy. "Madame, I am too humble to
have the right to be offended. I, the mere Director of an Opera, you,
one of the idols of Europe."
The _prima donna_ stamped an impatient foot. "Signor Corsini, you are
trying my patience unduly. It is easy to see that you have some
fancied grievance. Will you be good enough to explain what it is, or
at any rate the nature of it?"
Corsini looked at her steadily. "Madame, you have been good enough to
call me your friend. If that is the case, why have I not been invited
to those little private suppers at your villa? So many go, that one
more would not have made a serious addition."
Her face went as white as death. "Who has told you such a falsehood?"
she stammered.
Nello never took his eyes off her. The white face, the stammering
tongue, proved that Golitzine was right. She had secret parties at her
villa, and she was dismayed to find that anybody had heard of them.
"A friend of mine, whose name I must not reveal, Madame."
Without another word Madame Quero went to her dressing-room. From
there she despatched a hasty note to Prince Zouroff.