he Herzeleide," the
"House of Life," and the "Hymn to Pan" (both these last written for
organ and orchestra), together with the "Serenade to Death," are
gradually acquiring a public who listen in disorganized astonishment to
these records of a soul in the strangest travail ever revealed to
fellow-men.--But enough! Another paragraph, and Gregoriev is lost
forever to Philistia!

Not only Kashkine, but all those who heard of Ivan at this time,
believed that, behind his eccentricities, there still lurked a sardonic
grin at his own behavior; than which there can surely be no healthier
sign! Yet, towards the very end, he committed an act which once more
plunged the most indulgent of his friends into exasperated anger with
his folly.

Since his passing, the baton of Nicholas the well-beloved had been
wielded by Brodsky, who had acquitted himself through two seasons of
symphony concerts with considerable credit. The date of the first
concert of the series of 1890-1891, had been set for October 9th; and
its _piece de resistance_ was the "Sixth Symphony" of Gregoriev, whose
fiftieth birthday was to be celebrated by the playing of this, his
greatest work, with whose praises Moscow was already mysteriously
a-murmur; and afterwards by a supper, to be given that evening by his
old confreres of the Conservatoire. It was really Russia's capitulation
to her greatest musician, in whose universal acclaim there was to be not
one dissentient voice.

On the first day of the month Ivan received a letter from Kashkine,
explaining these things, giving a minute plan of the arrangements, and
eagerly congratulating Ivan on his assured triumph. For, well as he
knew his friend's instability, Constantine never for an instant doubted
that Ivan would consent to appear at a reunion for which, as Kashkine
knew, he had been longing, bitterly, ever since the sudden accession to
his father's wealth and title had barred him from the old-time
fellowship.--Wherefore Constantine's letter was couched not in terms of
pleading, but in sentences of joyous satisfaction at the prospect of
Ivan's delight. This was the reply:

"MAIDONOVO, _October 2nd_.

"MY DEAR CONSTANTINE CONSTANTINOVITCH,--Many thanks. Unfortunately,
I have now endured about thirty years of concerts; and I fear that
the thousand-and-first will hardly tempt me to Moscow. Appropriate
all applause to yourself; for verily I think you are the man who
has kept me at it for