Impatient to get his plans completed in detail, he had resolved to come for half an hour on this same day which had been appointed for Grail's visit.

Curious as he was to see the woman whom Grail was about to marry--as yet he knew nothing more of her than her casually learnt name--delicacy prevented him from using the opportunity this afternoon would give; the two were to arrive at three o'clock, and long before that time he would have finished his measuring and be gone.
And now he was making his last notes, when the sound of as sweet a voice as he had ever heard made him pause and listen.

The singer was approaching; her voice grew a little louder, though still in the undertone of one who sings but half consciously.

He caught a light footstep, then the door was pushed open.
His hand fell.

Even such a face as this would he have desired for her whose voice had such a charm.