e instrument might
give out a louder sound, then passed behind and arranged everything; and
suddenly I heard the splendid introduction of Haydn's seventh symphony
in _F major_ bursting forth, while my aunt turned the handle with rare
skill and gracefulness. (I recognised the superb instrument mentioned in
the fourth legacy of the famous will.)

I must admit that if my aunt played the minuet rather quickly, she
executed the _andante_ in a very delicate style, and the _scherzo_ and
the _finale_ were both dashed off in a spirited way. At the last chord,
I applauded with sincere enthusiasm.

"She plays very well, doesn't she?" my uncle quietly asked me, in a
modest tone. "You, who are a connoisseur--"

"Oh! she plays perfectly," I rejoined, without stinting my praise.

"And besides she puts expression into it," he resumed. "One can see that
she feels what she plays."

My aunt kissed him for this compliment, which he paid her with the
gravest assurance.

"Ah! you are still a flatterer!" she said to him.

As may readily be guessed, some of Strauss's waltzes and two or three
polkas followed the classical symphonies, together with the overtures of
"Don Giovanni" and "Fra Diavolo." It was really a perfect concert till
midnight. But by that time my aunt's plump arm being somewhat tired it
was necessary to bring the entertainment to a close.

Now, my dear fellow, I am not one of those who give way to the stupid
prejudices of our foolish traditions; still less am I one of those who
seek to evade frivolous objections, or fight shy of plain and open
discussion. I have myself officially abandoned polygamy, that is
true--but you are meditating another attack upon my uncle--I see it and
I feel it--and from the depths of your troglodytic intellect you intend
to drag out some commonplace hackneyed argument accompanied by frivolous
sarcasms, and directed, not at the point in question, but all round it.
As you are even incapable of understanding your own so-called virtue in
its true and primitive sense, you will no doubt repeat your usual stupid
remarks, denouncing my uncle's conduct as scandalous.

Let us go straight to the moral point, without haggling over words. My
uncle, who has the advantage of being a Turk, distributes himself
between his two wives, like a worthy husband faithful to his duty. Do
you presume to blame him? In that case what have you to say to our
friends A. B. C. D. E. F. (I spare you the rest of the alphab