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like the Poles；' he said。
〃Meanwhile； M。 Larinski entered； and I retained the two gentlemen
to dinner。 In the evening they again gave me a concert。 Why was
Antoinette not there？ I fancied I was at the Conservatoire。 Then we
conversed； and the abbe； who never can let go his idea； said； without any
reserve； to the count：
〃 'My dear count； have you reflected？ If you go to London； we could
hope to see you often； and； besides； the salarywell； as this terrible word
has been spoken； listen to me； I will do all in my power to obtain
conditions for you in every way worthy of your merit； your learning； your
character； your position。'
〃He was not permitted to finish the list； the count reared like the
horse in Horace； exclaiming； 'O Mozart！ what a horrid subject of
conversation！' Then he added； gravely： 'M。 l'Abbe； you are a thousand
times too good； but the place offered to me in Vienna seems to me better
adapted to my kind of ability； I would make； I fear； a detestable professor；
and the salary； were it double； would in my opinion have but little weight。'
〃The abbe still insisted。 'In our century；' said he； 'less than any other；
can one live on air。'
〃 'I have lived on it sometimes；' replied the count； gaily； 'and I did not
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find it bad。 My health is proof against accidents。 Ah！ where money is
concerned； you have no idea how far my indifference goes。 It is not a
virtue with me； it is an infirmity； it is because of my nationality； because I
am my father's son。 I feel myself incapable of thinking of the future； of
practising thoroughly French habits of economy。 If my purse is full； I soon
empty it； after which I condemn myself to privationsno； that does not
express itI enjoy them。 According to me； there is no true happiness into
which a little suffering does not enter。 Besides； I have a taste for contrasts。
At times I believe myself a millionaire； I have the pretensions of a nabob；
I give full scope to my fancies； the next day； my bed is hard and I live on
bread… and…water； and am perfectly happy。 In short； I am a fool once in the
year； and a philosopher the rest of the time。'
〃 'The trouble is；' returned the abbe； 'that one day of folly will
sometimes suffice to compromise forever the future of a philosopher。'
〃 'Oh； reassure yourself；' replied he； 'my extravagances never are very
dangerous。 There was method in Hamlet's madness； and there is always a
little reason in mine。'
〃While making this declaration of principles； he had seated himself at
the piano； and idly began running his fingers over the keys。 Suddenly he
began to sing a German song； which I got Abbe Miollens to translate for
me； and which is not long。 The hero of the song is an amorous pine；
standing on the summit of a barren mountain of the north。 He is alone； he
is weary； the snow and ice wrap him in a white mantle； and he spends his
dreary hours of leisure in dreaming of a palm； which in days of yore he
met； it seems； in his travels。
〃M。 Larinski sang this little melody with so much pathos that the
good abbe was touched； and I became anxious。 Anxiety； once felt； is apt to
be constantly returning。 I asked myself if he had met his palm in the
Engadine； and added aloud； rather dryly： 'Is the day of your departure
definitely fixed？ will you not do us the favour of granting us a reprieve？'
〃He executed the most pearly chromatic scale； and replied： 'Alas！
madame； I am only deferring my departure on account of a letter that
cannot be much longer delayed； in less than a week； I shall have the
distress of bidding you farewell。'
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〃 'You shall not leave；' said Abbe Miollens； 'without letting us hear
once again the poem of the pine。 You sang it with so much soul that it
seemed to me you must be relating an episode of your own history。 My
dear count； did you ever chance to dream of a palm？'
〃He answered： 'I have no longer the right to dream； I am no longer
free。'
〃The abbe started and cried out； in his simple…hearted way； 'Ah！ what；
are you married？'
〃 'I thought I had told you so；' replied he with a melancholy smile；
and he hastened to speak of a ballet that he had seen the evening before at
the opera； and with which he was only half pleased。
〃You can readily believe that when he pronounced the words； 'I
thought I had told you so；' I was on the point of falling on his neck； I was
so happy； that I was afraid he would read in my eyes my joy； astonishment；
and profound gratitude。 I think that he is very keen； and that he has
conjectured for some time the mistrust with which he inspired me。 If he
wanted to mock me a little； I will pardon him； a good man unjustly
suspected has a perfect right to revenge himself by a little irony。 I ordered
the horses to be put to my carriage to take him over to the railroad； and the
abbe and I accompanied him as far as the station。 There cannot be too
much regard shown to honest people who have been abused by fortune。
〃Well！ what do you say； my dear friend？ Was I wrong in claiming
that M。 Larinski is a delightful man？ He will leave before the end of a
week； and he is married； unhappily married； I fear； for his smile was
melancholy。 You see he may have married out of gratitude some /grisette/；
some little working…woman； who nursed him through illness； one of those
women who are not presentable； that would be thoroughly in character。
Happily； in law there are no good or bad marriages； this one I hold to be
unimpeachable。
〃The reaction was violent： I am so rejoiced that I feel tempted to
illuminate Cormeilles and Maisons Lafitte。 In what way will your
undeceive our dreamer？ In your place I would use some precautions。 Be
prudent； go bridle in hand； and in the future； believe me； climb no more
among the rocks； you see what it may lead to。
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