In the very midst of one of his finest and tenderest _sostenuto_ passages, Josephine sneezed--and such a sneeze! you might have heard it out in the lobbies.

An audible titter ran round the house.

I saw Madame de Marignan cover her face with her handkerchief, and yield to an irrepressible fit of laughter.

As for the tenor, he cast a withering glance up at the box, and made a marked pause before resuming his song.

Merciful powers! what crime had I committed that I should be visited with such a punishment as this?
"Wretched girl!" I exclaimed, savagely, "what have you done ?" "Done, _mon ami!_" said Josephine, innocently.