The business for the sake of which he made that sacrifice was easily
and quickly done. A bargain is not difficult when that which is
coveted by one party is deemed a burden and encumbrance by the
other. And Quinto Lalli became the fortunate purchaser of the
article of which he had so judiciously appreciated the value.
Quinto had his little purchase well and carefully educated--educated
her himself in a great measure, as far as her voice was concerned--
and took care that every attention was paid, not only to her musical
culture, and to the preservation and enhancement of her beauty--
which, with great comfort as regarded the ultimate issue of his
speculation, he saw every year that passed over her develop more and
more--but also to her intellectual cultivation. For Lalli was a
clever man enough to know, that if a stupid singer with a fine voice
can charm so as to be worth a hundred, an intelligent singer with an
equally fine voice, can charm so as to be worth two hundred.
And the old singing-master was good and kind to his pupil: firstly,
because he had no unkindness in his nature, and secondly, because it
was in every way his interest to conciliate the girl. She had been
brought out at eighteen, and had now been nine years on the stage--
nine years of success, which ought to have enriched both teacher and
pupil.
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