It was a song of flourishes: one of those be-flowered arias in which the notes flicker and leap like young flames.

Others might have sung it; and though it spoke favourably of her aptitude and musical education, and was of a quality to enrapture easy, merely critical audiences, it won no applause from these men.

The effect produced by it was exhibited in the placid tolerance shown by the uplifting of Ugo Corte's eyebrows, which said, "Well, here's a voice, certainly." His subsequent look added, "Is this what we have come hither to hear ?" Vittoria saw the look.

"Am I on my trial before you ?" she thought; and the thought nerved her throat.

She sang in strong and grave contralto tones, at first with shut eyes.