"
Spatola seemed surprised at this apparent warmth; he looked at
Ashton-Kirk questioningly.
"And, with all their scholarship, the Germans are so practical," went
on the latter. "Only the other day I came upon a booklet published in
Leipzig that dealt with the difficulty a composer sometimes encounters
in getting the notes on paper when a melody sweeps through his brain.
The writer claimed that the world had lost thousands of inspirations
because of this, and to prevent further loss, he proffered an
invention--a system of--so to speak--musical shorthand."
A sullen look of suspicion came into Spatola's face; he regarded the
speaker from under lowered brows.
"Perhaps you don't quite understand the value of such an invention,"
proceeded Ashton-Kirk. "But if you had a knowledge of stenography, and
the short cuts it--"
But the Italian interrupted him brusquely.
"I know nothing of such things," said he, "and what is more I don't
want to know anything of them." Then in a sharp, angry tone, he added:
"What do you want of me? I am not acquainted with you. Why am I
annoyed like this? Is it always to be so--first one and then another?"
At this sudden display of resentment, the turnkey approached.
"I will go back to my cell," Spatola told him, "and please do not
bring me out again.
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