We sat down in a corner at the far end of one of the aisles. Except ourselves and a couple of cleaners, there seemed to be no one in the church.

“You asked me yesterday about my engagements,” she began.

“Yes,” I said, “and I had a reason. As a doctor, I will take leave to tell you that it is advisable for you to throw yourself into your work as soon as possible, and as completely as possible.” And I remembered the similar advice which, out of the plenitude of my youthful wisdom, I had offered to Alresca only a few days before.

“The fact is that I have signed a contract to sing ‘Carmen’ at the Paris Op�ra Comique in a fortnight’s time. I have never sung the r�le there before, and I am, or rather