A Study in Tempo

I eased open the front cover of an antique pyramid metronome resting atop the polished piano. Exposed within the triangular walnut casing was a slender steel pendulum, notched with tempo markings. Pausing to deliberate between allegro and largo, I reached up with both hands to nudge the sliding brass weight toward the upper crest. The metal cuff yielded with a quiet, firm click, locking at sixty beats per minute. With a gentle nudge, I released the wand. The arm began its slow, symmetrical sweep—tick, tock, tick, tock—filling the parlor with measured cadence. Folding my hands neatly across my lapels, I matched each oscillation with a slight, composed nod.