t art which found
its creator in Tartini. However, let us set to work, gentlemen.'

"The Haydn quartettes were then played through, and with a degree of
perfection which, it need not be said, left nothing to be desired. The
Baron sat with closed eyes, swaying backwards and forwards;
occasionally he would get up from his chair, go closer to the players,
peer at the music with wrinkled brow, and then go very gently back to
his seat, lean his head on his hand, sigh, groan--

"'Stop, stop!' he cried suddenly at a melodious passage in one of the
adagios, 'by all the gods! that was Tartini-ish melody, or I know
nothing about it. Play it again, please.'

"And the masters, smiling, repeated the passage, with a more sostenuto
and cantabile effect of bowing, while the Baron wept and sobbed like a
child.

"When the quartettes were ended, the Baron said, 'A heavenly fellow,
this Haydn; he knows how to touch the heart; but he has not an idea of
writing for the violin. Perhaps he does not wish to do it; for if he
did, and wrote in the only true manner, as Tartini did, you would never
be able to play it.'

"It was now my turn to play some variations which Haak had written for
me.

"The Baron stood close behind me, looking at the notes. You may imagine
the agitation with which I commenced, having this severe critic at my
elbow. Presently, however, a stirring allegro movement carried me away.
I forgot all about the Baron, and managed to move about with all
freedom within the sphere of skill and power which stood then at my
command.

"When I had finished, the Baron patted me on the shoulder, and said,
'You may stick to the violin, my son; but as yet you have not an idea
of bowing or expression, probably because, up to this time, you haven't
had a proper master.'

"We then sat down to table, in another room, where there was a repast
laid out and served, which, especially as regarded the rare and
marvellous wines, was to be characterized as very extravagant. The
musicians dipped deeply into everything set before them. The talk,
which waxed more and more animated, was almost entirely on the subject
of music. The Baron emitted complete treasures of the most marvellous
information. His opinions and views, most keen and penetrating, proved
him to be not only the most instructed of connoisseurs, but also the
most accomplished, talented, and tasteful of artists. What was
specially striking to me was a sort of portrait gallery of violi