Then,
ignoring the amazed look upon Coleman's face, he proceeded gravely to
tune his violin to the piano. The act itself, the cool neatness with
which it was performed, the astonished face of the outraged pianist,
all together created a situation excessively funny. The effect upon
the audience was first one of surprise, then of unalloyed delight.
Immediately every man in the hall was wide awake, and as the humour
of the situation grew upon them, they began to cheer in quite a lively
manner.
When Barry put his violin to his chin they cheered again, for often had
he bewitched them with the magic of his instrument.
Before he began to play, he glanced over his shoulder at the discomfited
Coleman and remarked in an undertone, perfectly audible throughout the
hall, "Now we'll have some music."
Again the audience went off in a perfect storm of delighted cheers,
which were renewed from time to time as Barry would turn looking with a
grave face upon the still amazed Coleman, not yet quite recovered from
his first astonishment.
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