art of the sympathetically-minded. This
is why you are arrogant, as no singer, whose heart is untainted, ever
can be."

"'"Hoho!" answered Master Klingsohr, "Hoho, young sir! Do not get on
your high horse in this manner. As for my supposed intercourse with
powers of evil, be silent. It is beyond your comprehension; it is but
the idle chatter of childish idiots that it is from such a source that
my skill in sing-craft is derived. But, let me ask you, whence did you
derive what small knowledge on the subject you possess? Do you suppose
I do not know that at Siegebrunnen, in Scotland, Master Friedebrand
lent you certain books, which you, with base ingratitude, did not
return, but kept, and that all your songs are taken from them? Ha ha!
if I have the devil to thank, you have to thank your own ingrained
ingratitude."

"'Wolfframb was aghast at this horrible accusation. He laid his hand on
his heart, and said:

"'"May God be mine aid!--Amen. The spirit of falsehood is mighty within
you, Master Klingsohr. How could I have so shamefully cozened my great
master, Friedebrand, of his precious writings? Let me tell you that I
kept these manuscripts only just as long as Master Friedebrand wished
me to do so, and then gave them back to him again. Have you never
learned anything from the writings of other masters?"

"'"Be that as it may," Klingsohr replied, without paying much attention
to what Wolfframb said, "whencesoever you may have derived your art,
what warrants you in attempting to place yourself on a level with me?
Are you aware how diligently I have studied in Rome, in Paris, in
Cracow; that I have travelled to the distant east, and learned the
secrets of the wise Arabs; that I have sucked the essence of every
school of the singer's craft that exists, and wrung the prize from
every one who has competed with me; that I am a master of the Seven
Liberal Arts? Whereas you, who have spent your days in far-off
Switzerland, at a distance from everything in the shape of art and
science, you, who are a mere laic, ignorant of all book-knowledge,
cannot by any possibility have acquired even the rudiments of the true
craft of song."

"'During this speech of Klingsohr's, Wolfframb's anger had quite calmed
down. The cause may have been that, at Klingsohr's braggart language,
the precious gift of song within him shone forth more jubilantly
bright, as do the sunbeams when they break victoriously through the
heavy clouds which the sto