ists drew their heads
nearer together, and I gathered, from mysterious whispers and detached
words and phrases, that there was talk of tuition in music, of giving
of lessons. I fancied that, on Duport's face especially, there appeared
a sarcastic smile, and that they all attacked Concert-Meister Haak with
some piece of chaff, and that he, for his part, only feebly defending
himself, could scarcely suppress a smile, until at last, turning
quickly away, and taking up his violin to tune, he cried out, 'All the
same, he is a first-rate fellow!'

"All this was more than I could withstand, and although I was told, in
a pretty decided manner, to mind my own business, I begged Haak to
allow me, if in any manner possible, to go with him to the Baron's and
play in his concerts.

"Haak surveyed me with great eyes, and I feared that a little
thunderstorm was going to burst out upon me. But his seriousness melted
into a strange smile, and he said:

"'Well, well; perhaps you're right. There's a great deal to be picked
up at the Baron's. I'll talk to him about you, and I think it very
likely that he will accord you _les entrees_. He is very much
interested in young musicians.'

"A short time afterwards, I had been playing some very difficult duetts
with Haak. As he laid his fiddle down, he said, 'Now, Carl, put your
Sunday coat on to-night, and your silk stockings. We will go together
to the Baron's. There won't be many there, and it will be a good
opportunity to introduce you to him.'

"My heart throbbed with delight, for I expected to meet with things
unheard-of and extraordinary, though I did not know why this was my
expectation.

"We arrived there. The Baron, a rather small gentleman, advanced in
age, wearing an old Frankish embroidered gala dress, came to meet us as
we entered the room, and shook my master cordially by the hand. Never
had I felt, at the sight of a man of rank, more sincere reverence, a
more infelt, sincere, pleasant attraction. His face expressed the most
genuine kindliness, whilst from his eyes flashed that darksome fire
which so often indicates the artist who is, in verity, penetrated by
his art. All that diffidence with which I, as an inexperienced
neophyte, would otherwise have had to contend, fled from me instantly.

"'How are you, my dear Haak?' the Baron said. 'How are you getting on?
Have you been having a right good study at my concerto? Good, good; we
shall hear tomorrow. Oh, I suppose this is