improvisations, in
imitating their gestures, their movements, in counterfeiting their faces
with a talent which instantaneously depicted their whole personality.
His own features would then become scarcely recognizable, he could force
the strangest metamorphoses upon them, but while mimicking the ugly and
grotesque, he never lost his own native grace. Grimace was never carried
far enough to disfigure him; his gayety was so much the more piquant
because he always restrained it within the limits of perfect good
taste, holding at a suspicious distance all that could wound the most
fastidious delicacy. He never made use of an inelegant word, even in the
moments of the most entire familiarity; an improper merriment, a coarse
jest would have been shocking to him.

Through a strict exclusion of all subjects relating to himself from
conversation, through a constant reserve with regard to his own
feelings, he always succeeded in leaving a happy impression behind him.
People in general like those who charm them without causing them to
fear that they will be called upon to render aught in return for the
amusement given, or that the pleasurable excitement of gayety will be
followed by the sadness of melancholy confidences the sight of mournful
faces, or the inevitable reactions which occur in susceptible natures of
which we may say: Ubi mel, ibi fel. People generally like to keep such
"susceptible natures" at a distance; they dislike to be brought into
contact with their melancholy moods, though they do not refuse a kind
of respect to the mournful feelings caused by their subtle reactions;
indeed such changes possess for them the attraction of the unknown and
they are as ready to take delight in the description of such changing
caprices, as they are to avoid their reality. The presence of Chopin
was always feted. He interested himself so vividly in all that was not
himself, that his own personality remained intact, unapproached and
unapproachable, under the polished and glassy surface upon which it was
impossible to gain footing.

On some occasions, although very rarely, we have seen him deeply
agitated. We have seen him grow so pale and wan, that his appearance was
actually corpse-like. But even in moments of the most intense
emotion, he remained concentrated within himself. A single instant
for self-recovery always enabled him to veil the secret of his first
impression. However full of spontaneity his bearing afterwards might