An extravagant tale of political schemers. The hero, an Italian violinist, finds himself, after a phenomenal rise to success, placed in high society in the Russian court of Alexander III and used in a counter-plot to foil a design against the Czar's life. He succeeds and wins a charming russian princess.
y child, and hope. I have a little influence left yet. Perhaps I can put you on the right track; take you at least out of these miserable streets. Sit down for another ten minutes; make a second supper if you like." He guessed that they had not fully satisfied their hunger.
But this they resolutely declined. He waved them to their chairs.
"Five minutes, then. Tell me a little something of your history. I am sure it has been a tragic one."
And Corsini, departing from his usual mood of reticence, imparted to the old Frenchman the details of his career.
His father, the elder Corsini, had been first violin at the Politeama Theatre in Florence, while comparatively a young man. He had quarrelled violently with the manager and been dismissed. Confident in his ability, he had come over to England to seek his fortune afresh. Here he had met and fallen violently in love with, a young English girl, some few years his junior. She was a pianist by profession, in a small way. She attended at dan
