seven in the
morning
Nino , then , went off to Maestro Ercole 's house for his singing , and this is what happened there . De Pretis knew perfectly well that Nino had only asked for the extra lesson in order to get a chance of talking about the Contessina di Lira , and so , to tease him , as soon as he appeared , the maestro made a great bustle about singing scales , and insisted on beginning at once . Moreover , he pretended to be in a bad humour ; and that is always pretence with him . `` Ah , my little tenor , '' he began ; `` you want a lesson at seven in the morning , do you ? That is the time when all the washerwomen sing at the fountain ! Well , you shall have a lesson , and by the body of Bacchus it shall be a real lesson ! Now , then !