But the spirit of the musician asserted itself before the vengeful lover could carry out his purpose; as Ingolby felt sure it would.

Ingolby had purposely given the warning about the fiddle, in the belief that it might break the unwelcome intensity of the scene.

He detested melodrama, and the scene came precious near to it.

Men had been killed before his eyes more than once, but there had been no rodomontade even when there had been a woman in the case.
This Romany lover, however, seemed anxious to make a Sicilian drama out of his preposterous claim, and it sickened him.

Who was the fellow that he should appear in the guise of a rival to himself! It was humiliating and offensive.