A chance soon offered of putting his intentions into practice. On
entering Seyffert's one afternoon, he espied Dove, who had just
returned. Dove sat alone at a small table, reading the TAGEBLATT;
before him stood a cup of cocoa. When he saw Maurice, he raised the
newspaper a trifle higher, so that it covered the level of his eyes.
But Maurice went across the room, and touched him on the shoulder. Dove
dropped his shield, and sprang up, exclaiming with surprise. Maurice
sat down beside him, and, by dint of a little wheedling, put Dove at
his ease. The latter was bubbling over with new experiences and future
prospects. It seemed that in Peterborough, Dove's native town, the art
of music was taking strides that were nothing short of marvellous. To
hear Dove talk, the palm for progress must be awarded to Peterborough,
over and above all the other towns of Great Britain; and he was agog
with plans and expectations. During the holidays, he had held
conversations with several local magnates, all of whom expressed
themselves in favour of his scheme for founding a school of music, and
promised him their support. Dove had returned to Leipzig in a brand-new
outfit, and a hard hat; his studies were coming to an end in spring,
and he began to think already of casting the skin of Bohemianism.

Maurice listened to him leniently--even drew Dove out a little. But he
kept his eye on the clock. In less than half an hour, he would be with
Louise; from some corner of the semidarkened room, she would spring
towards him, and throw herself into his arms.

The majority of the classes were not yet assembled, when one day, a
rumour rose, and spreading, ran from mouth to mouth. Those who heard it
were at first incredulous; as, however, it continued to make headway,
they whistled to themselves, or vented their surprise in a breathless
"ACH!" Later in the day, they stood about in groups, and excitedly
discussed the subject. Ten of Schwarz's most advanced pupils had left
the master for the outsider named Schrievers. At the head of the list
stood Furst.

The Conservatorium, royally endowed and municipally controlled, held to
its time-honoured customs with tenacity. The older masters laboured to
uphold tradition, and such younger ones as were progressively inclined,
had not the influence to effect a change. Unattached teachers were
regarded with suspicion--unless they happened to be former pupils of
the institution, in which case it was assumed tha