, he restored them, by a word and a look, to their
usual order, whence, three seconds later, rose again the first long,
sweet strains of the first movement of the symphony, which, this time,
was received by the audience with frigid politeness, and many inaudible
comments on the shocking management that had admitted a drunken man to
the stage before _them_--the cream of Moscow's society!

Moscow society, indeed; but also representatives from other walks of
life. For, as his son retreated from the scene of his disgrace, the
solitary occupant of the right-hand stage _loge_, wrapping himself, face
and body, in a concealing cloak, walked rapidly towards the street, and
had soon left far behind the Grand Theatre, and his last dream of
reconciliation with his son.

* * * * *

Late in the afternoon of the following day, the directors of the Moscow
Conservatoire of Music held a spontaneous meeting, which the presence of
four men over a quorum rendered formal. It was for the purpose of
deciding the question of obtaining a new junior-class professor of
harmony. The matter was hotly debated: several speakers maintaining
that, after the affair of the night before, it would be impossible for
Monsieur Gregoriev to retain either the interest or the respect of his
pupils. It was remarkable, however, that only one man--a person who had
never met the person under discussion, referred to the prevalent rumor
of intemperance.

The door to the directors' room remained shut for two, ominous hours.
But when the inmates appeared again in the light of day, their general
expression was cheerful; and the list of Conservatoire professors
remained unchanged. Ivan was to be spared this final humiliation. For
not only Nicholas, but Anton Rubinstein himself, fought gallantly for
his retention. And it was undoubtedly the influence of the great
_virtuoso_ which turned the scale in his favor.--Moreover, it may be
surmised, and by no means without justification, that, even had Ivan
temporarily lost his position, the following winter would have seen it
once more offered to him; though his acceptance might have proved a more
doubtful matter. As it was, his gratitude towards the various members of
the committee was as deep as it was silent.

Certainly, without this possible, additional unhappiness, Ivan's cup of
misery was, for the moment, full. During the morning after the fateful
concert many people--all of them cruel, man