rnia 
 il
 
 THE LIBRARY/ / 
 
 OF // 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 MRS. VIRGINIA B. SPORER
 
 FLORIAN MAYR
 
 FLORIAN MAYR 
 
 IDER KRAFT-MAYR] 
 
 A HUMOROUS TALE OF MUSICAL LIFE 
 
 BY 
 
 ERNST VON WOLZOGEN 
 
 ENGLISH BY 
 
 EDWARD BRECK 
 
 AND 
 
 CHARLES HARVEY GENUNG 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 B. W. HUEBSCH 
 
 1914
 
 Copyright, 1914, by 
 B. W. HUEBSCH 
 
 Printed in U. S. A.
 
 DEDICATED 
 TO THE MEMORY OF 
 
 FRANZ LISZT 
 
 2041968
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I THE SENSITIVE ARTIST 11 
 
 II THIS CURSED Music ; 23 
 
 III HERR MAYR FORGETS HIMSELF ... 40 
 
 IV HERR MAYR WANTS TO FORGET HIMSELF 
 
 AGAIN 56 
 
 V SATAN 76 
 
 VI KATZENJAMMER . .....,; . 98 
 
 VII THROWN Our . . .... , . . .119 
 
 VIII THE EXAMINATION . . ... . . 144 
 
 IX THE GUILELESS FOOL 165 
 
 X AN INDISCRETION 188 
 
 XI ILONKA, THE GOOD 213 
 
 XII WAGALAWEIA 235 
 
 XIII A WlEDERSEHEN 260 
 
 XIV THE JUDGMENT 281 
 
 XV AN ESCAPADE 309 
 
 XVI A SORRY FAREWELL 330 
 
 XVII THE HEAVIEST BLOW 354 
 
 XVIII VICTORY AT LAST . 375
 
 FLORIAN MAYR 
 
 CHAPTEK I 
 The Sensitive Artist 1 
 
 ON the third floor of one of the oldest houses on the 
 Luisenplatz in Berlin, Florian Mayr, the pianist, occu- 
 pied a furnished room which he hired of the widow 
 Stoltenhagen. The plain whitewashed ceiling was low 
 and discolored by smoke, the cheap wallpaper was badly 
 damaged, and the floor which was very uneven and 
 footworn had once been painted gray; but on 
 the other hand the room was unusually large and, 
 what with its two little windows to the west and its two 
 little windows to the north, it was light and cheery. 
 And large, indeed, that room had to be where Florian 
 Mayr's powerful and sinewy paws pounded the keys; 
 otherwise the volume of sound that gushed from his 
 concert grand would have fairly burst the walls or in 
 the long run would at least have seriously injured the 
 sensitive ears of this piano-tamer. 
 
 Herr Florian Mayr was a wonderful man. He was 
 young, only twenty-three, neither handsome, elegant, 
 nor rich; such a man is by no means likely to make 
 much of an impression upon a Berlin landlady, espe- 
 cially when he shakes the whole house with his piano 
 playing and adds insult to injury by buying and pre- 
 11
 
 12 Florian Mayr 
 
 paring his own tea and coffee; but it is an actual fact 
 that Florian Mayr did mightily impress Frau Stolten- 
 hagen as well as her niece from Pomerania and her 
 servant from Miincheberg. The truth is this young 
 pianist was a man of well-defined purposes in life ; one 
 could see that by his nose which lay in the middle of his 
 thin, beardless, rather sallow face like a stray bowlder 
 on a level heath. For a man with such a nose one 
 would be careful not to write a P for a Q and even the 
 good-natured little brown eyes, which on occasion fairly 
 danced with merriment, could also flash terribly when 
 Florian Mayr flew into a rage, a thing which might 
 easily happen whenever the three women who minis- 
 tered to his needs failed to satisfy his exacting demands 
 as to punctuality, order, and neatness. With perfect 
 serenity he had promised the serving-maid to bat her 
 about the ears with his cast-iron bootjack if she con- 
 tinued night after night to shove that implement as far 
 under the bed as she possibly could. This assurance she 
 had taken seriously and on the strength of it had summed 
 up her judgment in the significant statement : " Herr 
 Mayr can lay about him for fair, he's that strong ! " 
 
 That was it; the natural strength of his character 
 filled the women with timidity and awe. He was a 
 whole man in spite of his long, artist's hair which, 
 smoothly brushed back from his high narrow forehead, 
 hung in straight lines down to his neck. Besides, his 
 life was so well ordered as to be almost uncanny. He 
 regulated it by the watch, paid his bills promptly, and 
 never brought home with him too much alcohol or any 
 other nocturnal companion. Frau Stoltenhagen was 
 also aware that her tenant gave lessons in the best 
 houses and received from five to ten marks an hour.
 
 The Sensitive Artist 13 
 
 Her niece from Pomerania, Fraulein Frieda, also ap- 
 proved of a regular life ; moreover she was a very pretty 
 and wholesome girl. In a case like that how could one 
 tell it would not have been so bad. Meanwhile the 
 good landlady indemnified herself for the breakfast and 
 supper which he did not procure from her by innocently 
 participating in his supply of groceries, soap, and tooth- 
 powder. There was another problem that agitated the 
 breast of Frau Stoltenhagen : how was a young man of 
 so prematurely ripe manhood, whose conduct was so 
 alarmingly exemplary, to be accounted for ? There 
 must be some mystery about him. Following this line 
 of thought, she subjected all communications addressed 
 to Herr Florian Mayr to a searching scrutiny whenever 
 by chance or strategy she got hold of any. Her suspi- 
 cions reached out in two directions : Florian Mayr was 
 either already consumed by a " grande passion " or else 
 he was something other than he gave himself out to be. 
 How often had Frau Stoltenhagen lingered in deep 
 meditation before the life-size plaster bust of Franz 
 Liszt which stood between the windows on a black 
 wooden pedestal at the left of the piano, and had grown 
 thoughtful when she perceived the resemblance between 
 her tenant and this musical Titan. There was the 
 same narrow bony face, the same all-dominating nose, 
 the same long straight hair. As to mouth and eyes, to 
 be sure, they differed and instead of the five warts of 
 the Master Herr Florian had but one. Could it be that 
 he was the son of Franz Liszt by some Russian princess 
 or other ? It is true, he said that his father was a hum- 
 ble organist in Bayreuth but what did that amount to? 
 The Russian princess could have bought up a Bayreuth 
 organist with a handful of rubles. Frau Stoltenhagen
 
 14 Florian Mayr 
 
 had a lively imagination. To her mind the matter was 
 practically proven and if, in spite of this, she was still 
 untiring in her search for documentary proofs, this was 
 the expression only of a certain excess of official zeal 
 which during her many years of intercourse with her 
 late husband, the city clerk, had become a part of her 
 nature. 
 
 It was half past nine in the morning of the eleventh 
 of November, 1879. It was a day like any other. 
 Florian Mayr had risen as usual at eight, had made 
 coffee, and then as usual had played scales and finger- 
 exercises for an hour. The first lesson he had to give 
 to-day was at ten. Accordingly he was about to make 
 ready to go out but on this occasion he had certain new 
 and peculiar measures to take. He folded a sheet of 
 writing paper three times and cut it with a knife into 
 eight pieces. On each of these eight slips he wrote 
 with a pen in large vertical strokes a weighty and sig- 
 nificant word. Then from another sheet he cut some 
 very narrow strips and covered them with gum arabic. 
 
 He had reached this stage of his preparations when 
 there came a timid knock at the door. 
 
 "Hold on! Who's there?" shouted Florian Mayr 
 aa with two great bounds he sprang to the door. Push- 
 ing back the bolt, he opened the door a little and peeped 
 through the narrow crack. " Oh, it's you, Prczewalski ? 
 Well, Prosit ! Come in ! " he cried in a tone that was 
 not exactly overjoyed. A gentleman of medium height 
 entered; his long havelock, gigantic soft hat, and long 
 soft locks at once betrayed the artist. 
 
 The gentleman with the difficult name removed his 
 hat, ran the fingers of his left hand through his soft 
 dark mane, drew his drooping mustache through his
 
 The Sensitive Artist 15 
 
 fingers in a melancholy manner to remove the melted 
 frost, and finally, raising his tired eyes, brought himself 
 to say in a wearied tone : " Good morning." 
 
 " What can I do for you ? Won't you sit down ? " 
 said Mayr impatiently, pointing to the old lounge. 
 " That is, you see, I'm just going out. How are you, 
 Prosit, anyhow ? " 
 
 " Thanks, not at all well ; nerves, nerves ! " com- 
 plained the Polish gentleman sleepily, as he passed the 
 back of his hand over his high arched eyebrows. " Why 
 do you always say ' Prosit ' to me, dear friend ? " 
 
 " Well, you see," answered Florian Mayr good-na- 
 turedly, " until I have succeeded in sneezing your name 
 out properly, I'd rather say ' Prosit ' for short. But 
 of course I could say ' Gesundheit ' if you prefer." 
 
 With an effort the Pole opened his fine languishing 
 eyes wide and with gentle reproach in his voice which 
 was always slightly nasal he drawled: " My dear 
 friend, why make you always fun of me ? If my name 
 is for you too hard," (and he rolled his *r' roundly), 
 " call me by my first name. We are brothers in art." 
 
 " All right, what is your name ? " 
 
 " But, dear friend, here is my card if you please. 
 My name is Antonine do not forget it always." 
 
 Florian took the card, regarded it on both sides with 
 seeming astonishment, and with a peculiar twitching 
 at the corners of his mouth replied after a pause: 
 " ^ow just look at that, nothing but Antonine. I 
 should certainly have labeled you with something end- 
 ing in ' laus.' " 
 
 " Why, pray?" 
 
 " I can't help it somehow or other you make a kind 
 of ' lausy ' impression on me. !N"o offense, dear friend."
 
 16 Florian Mayr 
 
 The handsome Pole looked up at his tall friend doubt- 
 fully and the tips of his mustache trembled slightly as if 
 he were a trifle hurt. " That's meant for a joke, I sup- 
 pose," he said in a troubled tone and as Florian Mayr 
 made no intelligible reply, he walked slowly over to the 
 writing desk, a highly polished roll-top affair known 
 as a ' cylinder-bureau ', and stared irresolutely, almost 
 gloomily, at the slips and strips of paper there. He 
 breathed hard through his nose once or twice in a pre- 
 paratory manner and asked : " What are you going to 
 do here?" (The roll of the 'r' was always strongly 
 marked.) 
 
 " Oh, I've gone into authorship a little," answered 
 Florian Mayr thoroughly delighted as he always was 
 when he had brought a deserved rebuke home to the one 
 who deserved it. 
 
 " Extraordinary," said the Pole after a short pause, 
 shaking his head. Then in a voice which seemed to be 
 dying of weariness he read the inscriptions on the slips 
 of paper : " Firstly : Fie for shame ! " " Secondly : 
 Ha ! Thou art discovered ! " " Thirdly : Silly goose ! " 
 "Fourthly: Blooming idiot!" "Fifthly: Caught!" 
 " Sixthly: Old cow! " " Seventhly: Now will you be 
 good ! " " Eighthly : I've had enough of this ! " 
 
 Florian appeared to be sorry for the helplessness of 
 his friend Antonine, or was it a kind of inventor's pride 
 that made him communicative? At all events he con- 
 descended to explain. He placed one of the slips of 
 paper in each of the eight little drawers of his desk and 
 with the narrow strips he pasted the front of each 
 drawer fast to the shelf above it. If now in his absence 
 the curious landlady should open any one of the draw- 
 ers, she must inevitably betray herself by the torn
 
 The Sensitive Artist 17 
 
 paper strip and he would have the satisfaction of know- 
 ing that she must have read the nattering message 
 placed in that particular drawer. When he had suc- 
 cessfully accomplished the difficult task of pasting, 
 Florian Mayr drew himself up proudly and trium- 
 phantly whispered : " Well, what d'ye say to that, An- 
 tonine Prositlaus? Jolly good trap, what? But 
 d'ye know how I punished the whole lot of them a while 
 ago for stealing my coffee all the time ? I bought a 
 quarter of a pound of rhubarb with my own good money 
 and I mixed it carefully with half a pound of finely 
 ground coffee. I tell you it worked to a charm! It 
 was more fun than a goat! Every time I heard foot- 
 steps in the corridor and anxious whispers I stuck out 
 my head and said : ' You're not feeling quite well, my 
 dear madam, or my dear child, as the case might be.' " 
 
 Prositlaus smiled almost imperceptibly: "Extra- 
 ordinary ! Very funny ! By the way, my dear friend, 
 I wanted to ask you: can you lend me twenty 
 marks ? " 
 
 " Xot just now, I'm sorry to say, but I've still a 
 goodly supply of the health-coffee on hand, if you hap- 
 pen to need that. Excuse me, but now I really must 
 go." 
 
 With this Elorian Mayr plunged into his winter coat, 
 put on his hat, and placed the desk key in plain 
 sight on top of the desk. He knew that Frau Stolten- 
 hagen could not withstand that temptation. Such 
 malice did Florian Mayr bear. Then he opened the 
 door wide for his guest and with a significant wave of 
 his hand said : " It has given me much pleasure " 
 
 With a deep sigh Prczewalski left the room. Mayr 
 followed him, slamming the door, and shouted down
 
 18 Florian Mayr 
 
 the back corridor: "Fran Stoltenhagen, I'm going 
 now." 
 
 His soft hat drawn far down over his forehead and 
 with the gloomy mien of a man really suffering, the 
 noble Pole stiffly descended the stairs. But it was not 
 in Mayr's nature to proceed so deliberately. " Keally, 
 I am in an awful hurry, excuse me ! " he said, grabbing 
 his silk hat by the brim, " Good-by, old man." And 
 like a high-spirited boy he sprang down the stairs in 
 gigantic bounds. 
 
 He heard his companion stumbling clumsily along 
 behind him and calling to him with all the strength 
 of his weak lungs. Whether moved by pity or by re- 
 gret for his rather overdone rudeness, at all events he 
 waited at the house door below. 
 
 Prczewalski was wheezing when he caught up with 
 him. " Please, dear friend, doctor told me, I have 
 fatty heart Let me accompany you. I've nothing to 
 do." 
 
 " All right," said Florian, but he set a pace which 
 very soon forced the Pole to seize his arm and allow 
 himself to be dragged along. He tripped on panting 
 by the side of his long-legged companion for he could 
 not afford to let the opportunity slip of renewing his 
 request, since it was no easy matter to get hold of this 
 Florian Mayr ; he always had so much to do. 
 
 " You see, what I wanted to say," he began. " I 
 need money. I haven't a penny in my pocket, can't 
 get shaved to-day. Tell me, what does one do to get 
 pupils at ten marks an hour in good families with 
 pretty daughters ? " 
 
 " But you've got means," retorted Mayr impatiently. 
 " You have your sonatas printed at your own expense.
 
 The Sensitive Artist 19 
 
 It takes money to do that! You are lodged like a 
 count and eat at the best restaurants." 
 
 " Oh, I'm afraid you cannot understand the cre- 
 ative artist. Some comfort and luxury are necessary 
 to inspiration. I have no inspiration when I eat sau- 
 sage with garlic in it and drink beer. I can't compose 
 when my trousers are torn and there are grease spots 
 on my cravat. Wagner has to have yellow satin for 
 his clothes-lining." 
 
 " Quite so," interrupted Florian laconically, " but 
 then, you see, he is the Wagner." 
 
 " I know that," replied the other, tossing his head 
 and smiling contemptuously, " but why may I not wake 
 up some morning the Prczewalski ? The creative artist 
 has a right to his artistic moods. I am a sensitive 
 artist. I need luxurious surroundings, soft fabrics, 
 soft cushions, soft colors; coarse foods give me indi- 
 gestion." 
 
 " Why don't you eat soft eggs ? They're cheap," re- 
 torted Florian, endeavoring to mock his friend's strong 
 Slavic accent. 
 
 The sensitive artist, disregarding this friendly ad- 
 vice, continued eagerly : " I've had my latest sonata 
 for piano and cello published, you know, dedicated 
 to Griitzmacher cost me a month's income, and 
 what have I left? I must earn some money. You 
 have so many pupils and you are so well paid. Couldn't 
 you give up one wealthy family to me, with pretty 
 daughters ? " 
 
 " Have they really got to be pretty ? " 
 
 " Of course. I'm not going to teach silly geese to 
 play. I want to marry. That's a sacrifice that I'm 
 willing to make for my art; I will sell myself. I'm
 
 20 Florian Mayr 
 
 prepared to sell the man in order to rescue the creative 
 artist." 
 
 Florian Mayr turned away to conceal the delighted 
 grimace with which he gave vent to his feelings. Then, 
 cordially pinching the fair Antonine's arm till he 
 squealed pitifully, Mayr replied : " So you think that 
 rich and pretty girls would take to the sensitive artist 
 so easily ? " 
 
 The Pole measured him with a look that was almost 
 pitying. " But, my dear friend, I ought to know 
 women ! They can all be caught with sugar, a cat of 
 a chambermaid as well as a princess, especially if they're 
 musical. If I should tell you my adventures, you 
 wouldn't believe me. The Countess Proskowski 
 poisoned herself on my account and Prince Smirczicki 
 wanted to fight a pistol duel with ma But I hadn't 
 time; the next night I had to attend a concert in War- 
 saw where I conducted my symphony, opus 7. The 
 Princess Smirczicki presented me with a laurel wreath. 
 I can assure you, all the high aristocracy are at my 
 beck and call. But one doesn't marry these ladies, 
 they're too likely to become inconvenient and cost more 
 than they bring in. The daughter of some tradesman 
 is better, with a few thousand marks or so. Don't you 
 know something of that sort for me ? " 
 
 " If you've no objections to a goose ? " 
 
 " Certainly not, rather prefer it." 
 
 " And as unmusical as a pug dog ? " 
 
 " Hm, if she isn't too tall and thin." 
 
 " No, not a bit of it, she's beautifully plump and 
 rich and romantic too." 
 
 " Just the thing. Where does she live? " 
 
 " She's the only daughter of the wealthy Consul Bur-
 
 The Sensitive Artist 21 
 
 mester in the Markgrafenstrasse. I'll give you a rec- 
 ommendation. The fact is, you'll do me a favor if 
 you'll relieve me of giving her lessons. But here we 
 are. This is my place and so farewell, old man," 
 wherewith he just barely touched his hat and rang the 
 bell of a house in the Koonstrasse before which they 
 had stopped. 
 
 " Thank you, dear friend," answered the Pole. " A 
 propos, can't you lend me ten marks ? I really must 
 get a shave." 
 
 " You can get that for ten pfennigs." 
 
 " My lord, my lord, you are a singular man ! You 
 don't understand the creative artist. Eight in here," 
 he said, tapping himself on the forehead, " Louis d'ors 
 are to be had by the thousands and you won't lend me 
 ten marks ! " 
 
 Meanwhile the heavy oaken door had been unlatched 
 and Florian Mayr braced his foot in the opening that 
 it might not snap to again. Taking a ten mark piece 
 from his pocketbook, he said : " There, if you please, 
 my respected friend, till the first of the month, eh? 
 when you receive the rents from your Polish estates. 
 I haven't got it to spare either. Get a good clean 
 shave." 
 
 Almost inaudibly Prczewalski breathed his thanks 
 through his nose, slipped the goldpieoe into his waist- 
 coat pocket, and gave his friend a parting handshake. 
 
 " The devil take him ! It's like running a fox-brush 
 through your fingers," growled Florian Mayr half 
 aloud, and shaking his bared hand as if something 
 disgusting had stuck to it, he ascended the well car- 
 peted stairs of the aristocratic mansion. 
 
 The " sensitive artist," however, expressed himself
 
 22 Morian Mayr 
 
 in Polish concerning his friend in much less flattering 
 terms. He hated this rugged, uncompromising man 
 and eagerly longed for a chance to revenge himself upon 
 him for all the stinging jokes with which the rude fel- 
 low loved to torment him. He walked along slowly till 
 he came to a barber shop where he got a shave for 
 twenty pfennigs. From the barber's he went to the 
 confectioner's and drank a cup of chocolate and ate 
 some apple-cake with whipped cream on it, for he was 
 a "sensitive artist" and loved soft things.
 
 CHAPTEK II 
 This Cursed Music 
 
 THE man-servant started to leave the bed-room of his 
 master with the consul's shoes in his hand. 
 
 " Oh, Fritz, you might bring me the lamp with the 
 green shade. I think I'll it will be a quarter of an 
 hour before tea is ready, just fetch me the evening 
 paper from my room. I think it's on the writing 
 desk." 
 
 " Very well, sir." 
 
 The man disappeared and Consul Bunnester, a portly 
 little gentleman of some fifty years, took off his coat 
 and threw himself with a deep sigh of relief into a 
 low easy-chair in front of the stove, in which a freshly 
 fed fire had just begun to crackle with renewed energy. 
 The little gentleman polished with his silk handkerchief 
 his bald head until it was so smooth that the flickering 
 flames were reflected upon it. Then he ran all his 
 ten fingers through the crown of thin, blond hair which 
 clung to his cranium, and also through his close-cut 
 beard. Then he took off his high stiff collar, stretched 
 out his short fat legs, leaned far back and yawned. He 
 yawned long drawn out, then staccato, then in tremolo, 
 gliding slowly from the highest falsetto down to a more 
 normal register. He yawned again and again, varying 
 artistically the motive " oo ah ! " : " oo oh 
 ah ah ah ooaiaiaiaiai hoohoohoohoohoo 
 hoo ! " Like a true disciple of the Sybarites he ex- 
 
 23
 
 24 Florian Mayr 
 
 tracted from the yawn the fullest enjoyment with 
 pedantic thoroughness, until at last he settled down with 
 a short grunt of satisfaction and folded his hands over 
 his round abdomen. He still held the collar, wilted with 
 perspiration, between two fingers, and awaited thus the 
 return of his servant. 
 
 At that same time the mistress of the house was also 
 occupied in making herself comfortable for the evening 
 meaL 
 
 Frau Olga Burmester's bed-room lay toward the 
 front of the house, next the drawing-room. Whenever 
 there was company she was accustomed to leave the 
 folding doors between bed-room and salon wide open. 
 She had heard that it was the fashion among the swell 
 Parisian ladies to use the bed-room of the lady of the 
 house as an additional reception-room, and, on "mi- 
 graine " days and during other similar aristocratic in- 
 dispositions, even to receive in the bed-room, which for 
 this reason naturally took on the more intimate char- 
 acter of a boudoir. And as Frau Consul Burmester, 
 nee von Studnitzka, was much given to copying every- 
 thing that was foreign and hence for Germany pos- 
 sessed the charm of the unusual, she had given much 
 care and attention to the arrangement and decoration 
 of her bed-room. The broad, very low canopy bed, a 
 rare masterpiece of early German woodcarving, stood 
 upon a carpeted dais, the walls on each side being con- 
 cealed by large imitations of Gobelin tapestries, while 
 the whole floor was covered with a thick Smyrna rug. 
 The pillows were bordered with broad lace and lay 
 on exhibition even in the daytime upon the coverlid of 
 old-gold satin. The few chairs were also upholstered 
 in old-gold satin. A handsome mirror reaching almost
 
 This Cursed Music 25 
 
 to the ceiling, an extremely elegant dressing-table, and 
 a fine commode of the baroque period completed the 
 inventory, the washing table and other necessities being 
 relegated to a small room at the side. 
 
 The mistress of all this elegance, attired in a neg- 
 ligee of white, was seated in an easy chair before the 
 great mirror while her maid, kneeling in front of her, 
 exchanged her shoes for a pair of elegant Turkish 
 slippers. 
 
 " When did my daughter go to bed ? " she inquired 
 of the girl. " Do you know whether her headache is 
 better?" 
 
 " I don't know, ma'am ; I haven't seen Fraulein 
 Thekla since eight o'clock. She was reading in the 
 master's room." 
 
 " Reading ? One doesn't read with a headache ; I'll 
 just go and see." 
 
 Frau Burmester rose quickly, gave another look into 
 the mirror, hooked her loose gown together and left 
 the bed-room hastily. She passed through the draw 
 ing-room and the dining-room, where the manservant 
 was giving a last hand to the tea-table, over which she 
 cast a cursory glance. 
 
 "Why three places, Fritz? My daughter has gone 
 to bed." 
 
 The man tried in vain to suppress a smile and re- 
 plied, " I just saw Fraulein Thekla in the study as I 
 went to fetch the paper for the consul." 
 
 " Just now ? " And Frau Burmester raised her 
 head and regarded the grinning servant with astonish- 
 ment. She knit her eyebrows. " Very well, I will 
 see." And quickening her steps she proceeded by way 
 of the back corridor to her daughter's room.
 
 26 Florian Mayr 
 
 As soon as the mistress had gone, Marie, the pretty 
 maid, appeared in the dining-room. Fritz went over 
 and put his arm familiarly about her waist. 
 
 " I tell you, Fraulein Thekla'll catch it this time ! 
 She ought to have been in bed long ago, eh? I just 
 saw her sittin' in the master's room with her fingers 
 in her ears, like this, over that pink-covered book you 
 lent her." 
 
 " Good heavens ! " exclaimed the maid in a low voice, 
 as she freed herself from Fritz's embrace. " If Frahi 
 Burmester should catch her at it ! I'd get a dose too ! " 
 
 Fritz grinned maliciously. "You see, my little 
 angel, what you get for it. What do you want to give 
 a half-grown girl such an exciting book for anyway ? " 
 
 " I was sorry for the poor girl. She's not allowed 
 to do anything she likes to. Nothing but singing and 
 playing the piano; it's enough to drive one mad. I'm 
 sorry for her, she's such a nice girl. She never goes 
 out either except to the fine concerts where you can't 
 even get a glass of beer. A girl wants to see some- 
 thing more of life at her age." 
 
 a Of course, and especially about wnat you call 
 falling in love is what she wants to know, hey ? " said 
 the teasing Fritz. " Well, I shouldn't wonder if you're 
 right. I'm sorry for her myself. So young and pretty 
 and the old lady after her every minute, for fear she'll 
 have too much fun. I'd like to know how them kind 
 of people got such a child as that." 
 
 " Fritz, you never will learn to speak properly. 
 You must say those kind/' said Marie, with a superior 
 smile. " Well, I don't wonder that you wonder. I 
 know something you don't." 
 "What might that be?"
 
 This Cursed Music 27 
 
 " Think I'll tell you ? You keep a secret ! Haha ! " 
 
 " Now you make me curious. Tell me, do ! I'm as 
 still as the grave, and it's a nice kiss you'll get from me 
 too, Marie!" 
 
 " Oh, what a stupid ! That would do me a lot of 
 good ! Let me go, I'm busy ! " 
 
 The pretty lass eluded adroitly the embrace of the 
 amorous youth and ran from the room. For a few mo- 
 ments she stood out in the corridor by Thekla's door 
 and listened. Right enough, there were sounds of sob- 
 bing and chiding within. 
 
 A few minutes later Frau Burmester came out, evi- 
 dently agitated, with a pink-covered book in her hand, 
 and swept through the hall into the bed-room of her 
 husband. The consul still sat in his shirtsleeves, read- 
 ing the evening paper by the light of the green-shaded 
 lamp. He had spread out his colored silk handkerchief 
 over his knees and the limp collar lay clasped round the 
 little gentleman's fat thigh. 
 
 " Really, Willy ! " cried his wife impatiently, as she 
 closed the door behind her. Then she remained stand- 
 ing on the threshold and drew her slim figure up to its 
 full, by no means inconsiderable height, a living ex- 
 clamation-point, the very spirit of disapproval made 
 flesh (or rather skin and bones), a living picture in the 
 door frame. 
 
 Herr Burmester let his paper sink with a sigh of res- 
 ignation and peered up over his gold eyeglasses at hia 
 spouse. 
 
 " What's the matter, my dear ? Is supper ready ? " 
 
 " No," she replied, going towards him. " I must 
 have a serious talk with you. But you would favor me 
 very much if you would complete your toilet some-
 
 28 Florian Mayr 
 
 what. You know I can't abide such slovenly bachelor 
 habits." 
 
 "Oh Lord, all right ! " replied the consul submis- 
 sively, as he rose with a sigh. " Well, what's the im- 
 portant news? I thought I might be allowed ten 
 minutes to read my paper in peace." And he buttoned 
 on a clean collar and donned a smoking jacket. 
 
 His wife held out to him excitedly the pink-covered 
 novel and said, " There, look at that ! What do you 
 think it is ? Guess where I found it ! " 
 
 The consul read the title on the cover in a tone of 
 indifference : Two Hundred Fathoms under the Earth, 
 or, the Blood-Countess. 
 
 " Well," he said, " what of it ? It's a penny-dread- 
 ful that you probably unearthed in the kitchen pantry. 
 Perhaps you regard it as one of my duties to call up 
 the cook and make a scene ! " 
 
 Frau Burmester subdued her voice to a hoarse whis- 
 per. 
 
 " That is the chosen literature of our daughter ! " she 
 gasped as she threw the pink book contemptuously upon 
 the nearest table. " Thekla pretends to have a head- 
 ache in order not to have to go to the concert with us, 
 and while we think she's in bed she's devouring this 
 atrocious stuff. She borrowed it from Marie. I 
 caught her in her bed-room. She was trying to get un- 
 dressed quickly so as to make believe she had gone to 
 bed long ago, and just as I entered she was hiding the 
 book under her pillow." 
 
 " Well, well, well ! " murmured the consul, plunging 
 his hands helplessly into his trousers pockets. 
 
 " Indeed ! And that's all you've got to say ? You 
 don't seem to appreciate what this pleasing discovery
 
 This Cursed Music 29 
 
 means. It's beginning to come out now, this tendency 
 towards the vulgar ; it is born in her it is heredi- 
 tary!" 
 
 " You say that in a tone as if it were my fault. 
 She's not my child." 
 
 " I don't mean that, thank God ! " replied Frau Olga, 
 with a laugh that was almost a sneer. 
 
 The consul now began to get a little excited himself. 
 He jingled the keys in his pocket and rocked nervously 
 on his feet. 
 
 " Don't exaggerate, I beg of you," he cried reprov- 
 ingly. " The child is gentle and good and affectionate, 
 and if she has inherited no more criminal tendencies 
 than a liking for trashy literature, I think we may be 
 very well satisfied. Taste is capable of being educated. 
 As for the rest, you will perhaps remember that the 
 idea of adopting an absolutely strange child came from 
 you. I myself wanted to take some poor relative into 
 the house." 
 
 " I gave you the choice of half a dozen young girls 
 in my own family alone," exclaimed Frau Olga in a 
 tone of pique. 
 
 The consul retorted promptly, " None of them was 
 particularly sympathetic to me, and besides you picked 
 every one of them to pieces yourself. You absolutely 
 would have a beauty and try to make a musical genius 
 out of her. That's why you preferred the daughter of 
 a vagabond musician and a pretty hotel chambermaid to 
 all the legitimate children of both our families. And 
 now you may bear the consequences yourself." 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " cried Frau Olga ex- 
 citedly, her dark, apelike eyes flashing and full of fight. 
 She sat down in the easy chair that the consul had oc-
 
 30 Florian Mayr 
 
 cupied before and drummed with her fingers on the 
 table, 
 
 " I have let you have your way, my dear," she pro- 
 ceeded acidly. " You think you can put me down with 
 your ironical flings. That may be very amusing, but 
 it seems to me that a serious question like this demands 
 serious deliberation. You wash your hands in inno- 
 cence, I suppose! I am to bear all the consequences 
 alone. What do you really mean by that? Shall I 
 look on with folded hands while the mother's nature 
 gradually gains the supremacy in this child ? " 
 
 " The mother made a very pleasing impression on 
 me, and has become a good and respectable woman. 
 The father seems somewhat more doubtful. He may 
 have been a pretty bad sort at all events we know 
 nothing to the contrary." 
 
 " In any case he certainly was not given to reading 
 penny-dreadfuls." 
 
 " But she surely gets her liking for servant-girls 
 from him. But, joking aside, haven't you perhaps 
 neglected to provide her with good wholesome read- 
 ing?" 
 
 tl I ? I have given her the choicest classic and mod- 
 ern works but those weary her, of course." 
 
 " Of course ! " repeated the consul with a laugh. 
 " They unusually weary half grown children and us 
 grown up people sometimes as well." 
 
 " You to be sure," sneered his wife. " Nothing can 
 make up for the lack of a classic education. That is 
 proved by you in the most convincing manner, my 
 dear." 
 
 " You are extraordinarily kind, my dearest ! "
 
 This Cursed Music 31 
 
 Saying which the consul withdrew his hands from 
 his trousers pockets an.d thrust them for a change into 
 those of his coat. But he did so with an energy which 
 betrayed a wound in a sensitive spot. He thrust out 
 his thick under lip testily and strode up and down 
 several times. Then he stopped in front of his wife 
 and said, "We shall not get far in this way I'll 
 speak to Thekla myself." 
 
 Frau Olga turned up her nose. " Bravo ! You have 
 gradually talked yourself into just the right state of 
 mind to make a tremendous impression on the young 
 lady." 
 
 " I'll leave the impression-making all to you ; that 
 doesn't belong in any way to my principles of educa- 
 tion. I love the child, I think I can say, as much as 
 if she were my own. I hope that Thekla feels that, 
 and if she does feel it she will listen to me. But please 
 let me talk to her alone." 
 
 He opened the door and allowed his wife to pass out 
 first. 
 
 Thekla Burmester was already waiting in the din- 
 ing-room. As her parents entered, she rose, went to 
 meet her father, and gave him her hand in an uneasy 
 and embarrassed manner. He reassured her by giving 
 it a hearty squeeze. She looked up and met his kindly 
 eyes, and then betook herself to the place at table with 
 a little sigh of relief. 
 
 Nevertheless the supper passed off in a somewhat 
 subdued atmosphere, for Frau Burmester sat there, stiff 
 and severe, and said hardly a word, and the consul did 
 not care to touch in her presence on the subject that 
 weighed upon their spirits. The meal was hurriedly
 
 32 Florian Mayr 
 
 got through with. Then the servant was sent to light 
 the lamp in the library and Thekla rose to say good- 
 night to her parents. 
 
 " Just a moment please," said Herr Burmester. " I 
 wish to speak to you, my child. Come to my room with 
 me." 
 
 Without a word the young lady followed her fat lit- 
 tle foster-father, her pretty round head with its two 
 luxuriant dark blond braids drooping in conscious guilt, 
 and her mouth twitching anxiously. By the time they 
 had entered the consul's elegant and comfortable study 
 and the door had closed behind them, the big child was 
 already in tears. 
 
 The consul seated himself in his easy-chair and called 
 Thekla to him. Then he took both her hands in his and 
 regarded her with a smile of compassion. She was 
 eighteen years old, rather tall and exquisite of figure, 
 slender and yet gracefully rounded. She wore a sim- 
 ple skirt of brown cloth and a dark blue sailor blouse, 
 much like those worn by boys, held at the waist by a 
 leathern belt. Her pretty white neck flushed and her 
 delicate little nose twitched, tears rolled down her 
 cheeks, somewhat paled by too much home staying, 
 while others threatened to fall from the dark, drooping 
 lashes. 
 
 Herr Burmester felt his own heart touched when he 
 saw the child weeping, and he found no better begin- 
 ning to his fatherly admonition than the question, 
 
 " Was mamma really so very severe ? " 
 
 Thekla nodded vigorously and then sobbed out with 
 difficulty: 
 
 " Oh, papa I'm really not so bad ! She said I 
 had low instincts! The most terrible crimi-
 
 This Cursed Music 33 
 
 nals all began that way reading such books she 
 said!" 
 
 She wiped her nose, brushed the tears away, and 
 continued more fluently. 
 
 " I really didn't think there was anything so bad 
 about it. A little while ago I went to call Marie for 
 mamma and she didn't hear me at all. She sat in 
 her room and was reading The Blood-Countess, and 
 when I called her she excused herself because she hadn't 
 heard me, and said The Blood-Countess was so awfully 
 interesting that you couldn't leave it alone if you once 
 began it. And then I said she must lend it to me, be- 
 cause I've never read anything as interesting as that. 
 I only began it this evening, because I didn't have to go 
 to the concert. I never have a chance any other time. 
 And it was really just as exciting as Marie said. I 
 didn't notice at all how the time passed, I didn't do 
 anything else that was wrong. And that isn't any low 
 instinct, is it ? " 
 
 The consul could not repress a smile. " Come here, 
 my child, and sit down by me; we'll have a sensible 
 talk together." 
 
 She dragged a chair up to his and sat down in front 
 of him, her hands folded in her lap. Then he con- 
 tinued : 
 
 " You see, Thekla, in the first place it is hardly 
 proper for the daughter of the house to borrow any- 
 thing of the servants; and secondly a young lady who 
 has had the benefit of a polite education should not care 
 for backstairs literature of that kind, for that shows 
 very bad taste. People of unstable character and par- 
 ticularly very young persons are really very easily 
 spoiled by such trashy reading. In that your mother
 
 34 Florian Mayr 
 
 is quite right. It would really be a blessing if society 
 could be protected by law from such poisonous and 
 dangerous stuff. It's a mixture of terrible secrets and 
 appalling crimes, and the criminals are all made ro- 
 mantic heroes of. It poisons the imagination and in- 
 cites to crime." 
 
 " But papa, you don't think I could ever do any of 
 those things in The Blood-Countess!" interrupted 
 Thekla in distress. 
 
 " No, dear heart, I am perfectly willing to believe 
 that you won't overload your conscience with poisoning 
 and burglary, but your idea of life and your taste will 
 suffer, I'm sure, and that is bad enough. An educated 
 person looks for truth in what he reads, for that is 
 wholesome, and for beauty, for that elevates and en- 
 nobles. But let us drop the subject now. You'll prom- 
 ise me, won't you, to withstand in future the temptation 
 to have anything to do with such stuff ? That's right ! 
 And now I'll tell you what I think worse than all the 
 silly horrors of The Blood-Countess. Till now I have 
 always found you frank and truthful, my child. It 
 would grieve me deeply if you should begin now to 
 walk in crooked paths. Xow I don't think it was right 
 of you to-day to pretend to have a headache so as to be 
 able to pore over your blood-and-thunder story instead 
 of going to a good concert." 
 
 " But papa, I did really have a headache," protested 
 Thekla eagerly. " When I practice so much I always 
 get a headache, and when I sit through a long concert 
 after that it makes me perfectly stupid." 
 
 Herr Burmester looked up in surprise. He had not 
 been prepared for such a confession. He played with 
 the tassels on the chair and resumed after a pause of
 
 This Cursed Music 35 
 
 some duration, "Why, do you dislike music so much 
 as that? Don't you know it's mamma's ambition to 
 make a fine musician of you? And after all, even if 
 you don't have to earn your living by it, it is always 
 a good thing for a young lady to do something well in 
 some field or other." 
 
 "Yes, papa, and I would like to do that too," re- 
 plied Thekla. " I would so like to learn a lot and 
 read good books and all that. All the girls of my 
 acquaintance know much more than I do. But not one 
 of them has to practice as I do. I really don't have 
 time for anything else. I've got to take singing les- 
 sons too, and my voice is as thin as a thread. And 
 practicing on the piano makes me so awfully tired; I 
 always feel utterly worn out after practicing. The 
 keys all keep hammering on my head, so that I often 
 have a feeling as if it were quite soft, as if I only had 
 to press a little with my finger to bore a hole in it. And 
 at night I dream such horrible things. Our piano 
 stands there like a big black cofiin, and then the top 
 is raised a little, and through the crack creep hun- 
 dreds of note-heads with arms and legs on them. They 
 all have hammers on their backs and they run after 
 me and try to strike me. Then I have to jump out of 
 bed in my night-gown and run out into the street and 
 run and run in the black night, and the wind shrieks 
 so terribly. And I hear all the notes sounding as they 
 run after me. And they scream, ' Don't you see I've 
 got a flat in front of me, you goose ? ' And another 
 one shrieks, ( I'll throw my sharp at your head if you 
 play C-natural again ! ' Oh, darling papa, you can't 
 imagine how terrible it is! Just fancy, the notes all 
 have the voice of Herr Mayr when they scream at me.
 
 36 Florian Mayr 
 
 And besides Herr Mayr stands behind them and com- 
 mands them and sets them onto me ! I'm so afraid of 
 Herr Mayr!" 
 
 " My poor child, what extraordinary ideas ! " ex- 
 claimed the consul in alarm. He rose, drew the young 
 girl to him, and stroked her thick soft hair. For some 
 time he held her so without speaking. Then he took 
 her head in both hands, kissed her on forehead and 
 cheek, and said, " Go to bed now, my pet, and don't 
 excite yourself with such morbid fancies. I'll have a 
 talk with mamma. We must make it easier for you, 
 I can see that. You must not get ill on account of that 
 curs I mean blessed music ! " 
 
 " You're so good, papa, you'll help me, won't you ? " 
 pleaded Thekla. Then she allowed herself to be pushed 
 gently out of the room. 
 
 As soon as she was gone Herr Burmester became red 
 in his face, raised both hands on high, and spoke in a 
 low but distinct voice the word he had suppressed in 
 Thekla's presence: 
 
 " This cursed music ! " During the few minutes in 
 which his persecuted and frightened child was crying 
 herself out upon his shoulder his whole life passed be- 
 fore him in memory. His father had founded the 
 firm in Liibeck and gradually raised it from its origi- 
 nal modest proportions to the rank of one of the most 
 important among the houses of world-wide fame in his 
 native city. But Wilhelm Burmester cherished but 
 few pleasant memories of his early home. A foolish 
 marriage contracted by the elder Burmester in youth 
 with a girl of no very gentle character, who was not only 
 commonplace and illbred but incapable of improvement, 
 had embittered his whole life. He became a mere beast
 
 This Cursed Music 37 
 
 of burden. He was a hard master and a strict father. 
 It thus came to pass that Wilhelm Burmester never en- 
 joyed the best part of a good bringing-up, the pure, 
 peaceful, sabbath atmosphere that a harmonious married 
 life sheds upon home and family. In this way, he, too, 
 became an every-day sort of man and a mere beast of 
 burden, like his father. 
 
 When in after years he came to recognize why it 
 was that no real happiness could be looked for in his 
 father's house, he promised himself to avoid a hasty 
 marriage as he would the cholera. But, from pure 
 fear of allowing himself to be carried away by his feel- 
 ings, all capability for deep feeling died in him. He 
 was an old young man and had become a power in the 
 commercial world before he made up his mind to enter 
 into a marriage of reason and convenience. To pre- 
 serve and increase the prestige which his wealth and the 
 solidity of his firm gave him, he needed a wife chosen 
 from^ the really best circles, who was a mistress of 
 etiquette and who possessed enough intelligence to make 
 the house over which she presided the resort not only of 
 the usual run of diners-out but of cultivated society. 
 And so he married a well-bred young lady, no longer 
 young, of noble family but poor. There was no ques- 
 tion of love on either side; but he considered that he 
 was entitled to her eternal gratitude for placing her 
 in circumstances where she could develop brilliantly 
 her social talents and satisfy her penchant for a life 
 of luxury. His wife had never been pretty, but, in 
 spite of her deep-set eyes and extreme gauntness, she 
 made a very aristocratic impression. She dressed in 
 excellent taste and understood so well how to get such 
 original effects out of the arrangement of her luxuriant,
 
 38 Florian Mayr 
 
 nearly black hair that, when dressmaker and hair- 
 dresser played successfully into each other's hands, she 
 even passed for rather an interesting personality. And 
 after all what right had he to expect beauty ? He was 
 perfectly conscious of being a very uncomely, fat little 
 fellow himself. All in all he was quite satisfied with 
 the result of his marriage, as long as he still lived in 
 Liibeck actively engaged in business. After five years 
 of clever manipulation, however, she succeeded in 
 bringing him to the point of retiring from the firm in 
 favor of a nephew who had long shared his confidence, 
 and of removing to Berlin with the title of Consul of 
 Uruguay. 
 
 She certainly understood how to secure a firm footing 
 in the best circles of the capital and to give her home, 
 an atmosphere commensurate with their position, but 
 the consul himself was the victim of this social eleva- 
 tion. The musical predilections of his wife were the 
 key that had unlocked for them the doors of patrician 
 society. She never failed to attend a musical function 
 and the most celebrated virtuosi shared the hospitality 
 of her home. In this way she attracted society to her 
 house. And the poor consul, though unmusical to an 
 extreme degree, was dragged ruthlessly from concert 
 to concert, and was forced to bow down before all kinds 
 of music folk of both sexes, no matter how stupid or 
 vain they might be; to affect enthusiasm where his 
 only feeling was one of yawning ennui; and to make 
 friends with people with whom he had absolutely noth- 
 ing in common. As he had nothing whatever to do, it 
 was impossible to find an adequate excuse for shirking 
 the duties with which his wife weighted him down, 
 and when once in a while, in a fit of desperation, he did
 
 This Cursed Music 39 
 
 cross the dead line of social routine, she punished him 
 with cold contempt, and made him feel that he had 
 ceased to be a factor in her scheme of existence. It fol- 
 lowed that, as he shunned the ridiculous role of a marital 
 zero, and did not care to be taken for a simpleton, he 
 took up his burden of martyrdom again and went on 
 playing the hypocrite, as his wife demanded. 
 
 It was at the time of their removal to Berlin that 
 they had adopted the orphan girl. Thekla was thought 
 in society to be a legitimate daughter of the house. 
 Heir Burmester did not contradict this supposition, 
 for he was proud of the comely girl, and loved her for 
 her simplicity and goodness of heart. The child had 
 become his very own through love and he gloried in 
 his fatherhood. She should not be haled along that 
 road of thorns over which he had dragged his tired 
 and heavy limbs. Her plaintive lament had fright- 
 ened him out of his indolent indifference. The child 
 was right; he knew exactly how she felt. Why of 
 course! It can't help making one stupid and dull. 
 And the consul clinched his fist again and hissed 
 through his teeth, 
 
 " This cursed music ! "
 
 CHAPTER III 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 
 
 THE next morning brought to Fran Burmester a great 
 surprise. She had always regarded her husband as 
 an early riser, for he rose every day punctually at eight 
 o'clock, however late he might have been up the night 
 before, whereas her ladyship's rising hour was, accord- 
 ing to the state of her nerves, anywhere from nine till 
 noon. To-day she had had her cocoa, she always 
 used nourishing beverages, not having as yet relin- 
 quished the hope of growing stouter, at nine o'clock, 
 intending, however, to counteract the possible evil effects 
 of last night's excitement by lying abed an hour or two 
 longer. 
 
 Just as she was moistening her lips with a dainty 
 napkin to remove the traces of cocoa and a soft egg, 
 her husband entered, fully equipped for the street, and 
 announced his intention of taking an extended walk in 
 the Thiergarten in Thekla's company. 
 
 " Thekla can't go with you to-day," replied his wife 
 coldly, as she readjusted the pillow, with which she 
 had propped herself up for breakfasting purposes, and 
 stretched herself at full length in the bed. " You have 
 forgotten, dear Willy, that at eleven o'clock Herr Mayr 
 is coming to give her a music lesson." 
 
 " We shall be back by eleven." 
 
 " But you know very well that Thekla has to prac- 
 tice finger exercises for an hour before she takes her 
 
 40
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 41 
 
 lesson. What can Herr Mayr do with her if she comes 
 to the piano with stiff fingers ? " 
 
 " I don't care anything about that," retorted the 
 consul with unwonted decision. " It's my opinion 
 the girl will go to her tasks fresher and more collected 
 if she doesn't tire herself out beforehand. Besides I 
 don't care anything about that either. What difference 
 does it make whether Thekla plays the piano better 
 or worse to-day or any other day ? The main thing is 
 to look after her health and see that she isn't pushed 
 too hard." 
 
 " Good gracious, what sort of way is that to talk ? " 
 cried Frau Olga in wide-eyed astonishment, raising her- 
 self in bed with a sudden jerk. " I thought it was 
 understood between us that her artistic education was 
 to be left entirely to me." 
 
 " Oh, bah ! artistic education ! That's a fool phrase ! " 
 growled the consul angrily. " When one party to a 
 marriage contract treats the child unreasonably and the 
 other party perceives it, it becomes his duty, damme, 
 to resist the first party and to the best of his ability 
 see to it that no serious harm is dona It was wrong 
 of me not to trouble myself more about Thekla's edu- 
 cation. N~ow I'm going to try to make up for it. So 
 I bid you good morning, my dear Olga ! " 
 
 The little man waved his hat imperiously in the 
 direction of his wife and, before her indignation could 
 finds words, hastily left the room. She had a great 
 mind to spring out of bed, throw on a wrapper, run 
 after her rebellious husband, and, if possible, tear 
 Thekla from him before they could get safely outside the 
 door, but the thought of making herself ridiculous in 
 the eyes of the servants by a scene of that sort restrained
 
 42 Florian Mayr 
 
 her. Reaching out for the knob of the electric bell 
 which hung at her head, she pressed the white button 
 furiously and as the maid did not appear instantly 
 she continued to ring, scarcely pausing for a second 
 in her excitement. 
 
 Marie came rushing in in a great fright, bringing 
 a wet cloth, for she was sure her mistress must have 
 spilled the cocoa over the satin coverlet. 
 
 " Call my daughter back, I wish to speak to her," 
 shrieked Frau Burmester, before the maid had a chance 
 to ask what was wanted. 
 
 " Fraulein Thekla has been gone some time," re- 
 plied Marie. " She went out first and waited for 
 master outside." 
 
 It cost the lady no little effort to restrain an ex- 
 plosion of wrath in the presence of the maid. She 
 bade Marie remove the breakfast things. When she 
 was alone she laid about her in a rage, gesticulating 
 wildly, and the way she laughed was not exactly ami- 
 abla "It's incredible! This fat little Willy Bur- 
 mester! All of a sudden starting up to play a part! 
 Makes Thekla rebel against me ! Who would have 
 believed it? But they're afraid of me all the same, 
 both of them, the heroes ! He runs away without giv- 
 ing me a chance to speak and she runs off down the 
 street so that I shan't bring her back. Just wait ! I 
 don't think they'll play such tricks very often. It's 
 really too bad! I'd. scarcely slept off the excitement 
 of last night a little and here they have to worry me 
 sick again in the early morning ! " 
 
 The morning nap was now out of the question. 
 After all it was better to get up at once and courage- 
 ously face the world in its early morning aspect and
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 43 
 
 see how the peaceful home looked after the declaration 
 of war. 
 
 Promptly, as usual, at eleven o'clock Herr Florian 
 Mayr appeared for the music lesson. Frau Burmes- 
 ter received him in the drawing-room. 
 
 " I regret deeply, my dear Herr Mayr, that you will 
 have to wait a moment," she said as she rustled to- 
 wards him in her costly, heavy morning gown. " My 
 husband has run off with our Thekla. He claims that 
 it is better for the health to take a walk than to practice 
 the piano." 
 
 " There's no doubt about it whatever, he's quite 
 right," broke in Florian Mayr laughing, as he com- 
 plied with her mute invitation to be seated. 
 
 Frau Burmester placed herself opposite him on the 
 sofa and went on without noticing his interruption! 
 " My husband, I'm sorry to say, is not musical enough 
 to be able to assist me in the artistic education of our 
 daughter. Why, actually, like the business man that 
 he once was, he is accustomed to look upon the arts as 
 agreeable but idle superfluities that is, so long as one 
 doesn't make a living by them. It is impossible for 
 him to perceive that even the dilettante who intends to 
 accomplish anything worth while must work with ear- 
 nestness and determination. You can easily understand 
 that my daughter is most ready to follow that one of us 
 who promises to make life easiest for her. In a young 
 girl that is natural. But I am very glad of this op- 
 portunity, my dear Herr Mayr, to speak with you alone. 
 I have long wanted to urge you to treat my daughter 
 with proper severity. She is too apt to let herself go if 
 she is not held strictly to account. So please pay no 
 heed to the fact that she is a young girl of good family,
 
 44 Florian Mayr 
 
 who is not obliged to do this, but simply treat her like 
 any other pupil, who is under the necessity of achiev- 
 ing something and who must therefore be kept more 
 firmly in hand than those who are perhaps more indus- 
 trious by nature or who learn more readily. Will you 
 promise me this ? " 
 
 The pianist did not reply at once. He smiled quietly 
 and regarded his long bony fingers. At last he spoke : 
 " Do you know, madam, this is the first time I have 
 ever been asked to be more strict? In fact I am gen- 
 erally known as a regular brute and it's pretty much the 
 same to me whether I'm dealing with a fine young lady 
 or a stupid boy. If I find talent in a pupil, I take the 
 matter seriously and demand the greatest application. 
 But now that we're on the subject, I'm really sorry for 
 your daughter." 
 
 " How so ? What do you mean ? " 
 
 " Well, to be frank, in my opinion the young lady 
 hasn't enough talent to bear my sharpest key. I think 
 the consul is right. Let her take her walks and never 
 play the piano any longer than she wants to. She won't 
 get much further than she is now any way and even if 
 she did it won't amount to anything much at best" 
 
 Frau Burmester stiffened up and looked much an- 
 noyed. With a forced smile she replied : " Oh, Herr 
 Mayr, it seems to me you go too far. Thekla is so 
 young, her character is still too undeveloped to Be- 
 sides you, too, are still young; I don't know but you 
 judge somewhat too hastily. You will pardon me, I 
 believe experience may in the future teach you that even 
 in art talent and temperament are not the only final 
 tests and that unremitting industry and earnest applica- 
 tion can make up for much."
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 45 
 
 " Well, madam, if you think I don't know anything 
 about that " 
 
 " Pardon me, Herr Mayr," interrupted Frau Bur- 
 mester, rising quickly. " I hear steps outside, I think 
 they have returned, excuse me." She bent her head 
 slightly towards him and rushed out of the door. 
 
 Florian Mayr remained alone. With a superior 
 smile he looked after the lady of the house and then 
 with his forefinger traced upon his high forehead a 
 significant cross. In the next room he heard excited 
 whispers. He gave a short laugh ; then, seating himself 
 at the piano, he opened it and in long drawn chords be- 
 gan to improvise. A few minutes later Thekla entered. 
 He pretended not to notice her and dashed into one of 
 the most difficult of Liszt's etudes which just at that 
 time he was studying. Thekla stood a few paces be- 
 hind him and listened. Suddenly he wheeled about 
 on the piano-stool and with kindly good nature laughed 
 in her face : " Well, Fraulein, so there you are." 
 
 She began to make excuses but he stopped her short. 
 " Know all about it. IsTow we shall see for once how 
 you can play the piano when you have red cheeks. 
 I've never seen you with red cheeks before, Fraulein 
 Burmester." He resigned his seat to her and drew up 
 a chair. The red on Thekla's cheeks deepened. She 
 never could quite make out what Herr Mayr meant. 
 It all sounded so ironical. Was he angry, too, like 
 her mother, who had just treated her to a curtain lec- 
 ture condensed in whispers? She brought out her 
 music, laid it on the rack, and adjusted the piano-stool. 
 Herr Mayr stood beside her with folded arms, gazing 
 steadily at her with an ironical smile. She did not 
 know which way to look. She sat down, her heart beat-
 
 46 Florian Mayr 
 
 ing fast, took off her rings, smoothed her skirt over 
 her lap, and at last said very shyly : " Oh, Herr 
 Mayr!" 
 
 " What's the matter ? Don't you feel well ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, thank you. But I shall never learn to play 
 like you." 
 
 " Right you are," he laughed. " So let's begin. 
 Play as badly as you like. I'll do my part later." 
 And again he laughed ambiguously. 
 
 She began to play a mazourka of Chopin, timidly, 
 colorless in expression, uncertain in time, badly phrased, 
 and constantly striking false notes, especially in the 
 bass. What was the meaning of this ? Perhaps Herr 
 Mayr was not paying attention, l^ever before had he 
 allowed the slightest slip to pass without shouting at 
 her. She ventured to glance furtively around at him. 
 Good gracious! There he still sat, smiling roguishly, 
 with such a funny expression in his small brown eyes. 
 
 This was really the first time that Florian had ever 
 observed his pupil with close attention. These wellbred 
 maidens of good family whom he instructed for from 
 five to ten marks an hour had always been objects of 
 complete indifference to him. They had no charm for 
 him because he had never been able to discover behind 
 their soft smooth little masks any individuality at all. 
 Consequently he simply divided these estimable young 
 daughters of the well-to-do into three classes : piano 
 geese, singing geese, and painting geese. That was 
 the end of them for him. But since his talk with Frau 
 Bunnester this little maiden suddenly appeared to him 
 in a new light. Here was the unfortunate victim of 
 a mother's misdirected zeal and he could not help think- 
 ing how only a few days ago out of pure whim and
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 47 
 
 impatience he had promised his wishy-washy Polish as- 
 sociate, Prositlaus, to let him have this poor little 
 sacrificial lamb as easy prey. The girl was really very 
 pretty. There was something touching about her tender 
 beauty enhanced by the striking contrast between her 
 almost ripe buxom young womanhood and her child- 
 like expression of worry and timidity. Why should 
 the poor thing have to play the piano, he thought to 
 himself. If she sleeps well and has a good digestion 
 and goes for her walks and gets red cheeks, why then 
 she will be something delightful to look upon. And 
 to pass peacefully through the world an edifying sight 
 for harassed humanity, that of itself is not an unworthy 
 mission in life. 
 
 Thekla had finished her mazourka. She let her 
 hands fall into her lap and with a look of anxious in- 
 quiry glanced shyly around at her stern teacher. 
 
 Florian Mayr shook his smooth mane, scratched him- 
 self whimsically behind the ear, and said : " Well, 
 Fraulein Burmester, I suppose I've got to say some- 
 thing. It was abominably bad." He put his hand 
 upon her arm, pushed her energetically from the piano- 
 stool, and taking her place, played the mazourka 
 through for her. That of course sounded quite dif- 
 ferent, free in tempo but strict in rhythm. One could 
 actually hear the beat of the boots with their clinking 
 spurs and the marvelously graceful and piquante 
 Chopinesque fioriture dropped lightly from his fingers 
 like pearls or tripped like many-colored mottos over 
 the flowing, glistening ribbon of the melody. 
 
 " That's the way that thing sounds," he said severely 
 when he had finished. Then he made place for her 
 again. He was no longer smiling. In playing that
 
 48 Florian Mayr 
 
 deep earnestness with which he treated everything re- 
 lating to his art had come upon him again. 
 
 Thekla drew a deep sigh. Then, summoning all her 
 courage, she attacked the keys with energy. Alas! 
 Two false notes in the first chord. Herr Mayr cried 
 out in pain. But Thekla was not to be driven out of 
 her dare-devil mood. Away she thundered, treading 
 the pedal as if it were a helpless old cur and she a bad 
 old man venting his evil humors upon it. Faster and 
 faster grew the tempo, the phrasing more obscured, the 
 outrageous mistakes more and more frequent. 
 
 " Wrong ! C-sharp ! Damnation ! Piano ! Thunder 
 and lightning! Now crescendo! My God! Stop, 
 stop ! You're making a beastly mess of it." But let 
 the fierce Herr Florian shout and rage as he would, 
 Fraulein Thekla was not to be stopped. Fraulein 
 Thekla had gone mad. 
 
 Now Herr Mayr was angry in earnest. Was she 
 making game of him, the silly fool? She had better 
 drop that sort of thing. " Stop ! " he roared again. 
 "Or I'll " 
 
 She did not hear him; she banged away. Her 
 delicate nostrils were distended, her breath came fast, 
 her cheeks faded from deep red to white. 
 
 But Florian's patience was now exhausted and 
 biff ! there was a slap on her left hand that fairly 
 burned. 
 
 With a little frightened cry Thekla swung round; 
 she rubbed her left hand with her right and gazed in 
 terror at her enraged teacher. 
 
 The shameless fellow bent over her, his teeth set, 
 and with a " piff, paff, take that ! " his hard bony well-
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 49 
 
 directed paws descended with a rush upon her warm 
 soft little paddies. 
 
 Poor frightened Thekla in her first surprise did not 
 seem to comprehend that she was being struck. Not 
 until she had received a good half-dozen blows, did she 
 awake from her stupefaction. She sprang to her feet 
 and ran to the door, sobbing aloud. " Papa, papa," 
 she cried. " Herr Mayr is striking me ! " 
 
 It was now Master Florian's turn to open his eyes 
 in astonishment. It was of a sudden borne in upon 
 him that he had behaved in a most unseemly manner. 
 He, too, sprang up and, running after the weeping girl, 
 tried to soothe her, to beg her pardon, or even to 
 scold her for crying so childishly. 
 
 Thekla probably thought that he was going to strike 
 her again, for she gave a shrill cry of terror and rushed 
 out of the room. 
 
 At the same moment the consul summoned by his 
 daughter's clamor reached the door of the drawing-room 
 and, close upon his heels, came his wife, her face red 
 and her eyes snapping, for the girl's cries for help had 
 interrupted her in the midst of a bitter altercation 
 with her husband. Thekla took refuge on her father's 
 breast, threw both arms about his neck, and, sobbing 
 loudly, uttered once more her indignant complaint: 
 " Papa, Herr Mayr struck me ! " 
 
 " What's that ? I must have misunderstood," stut- 
 tered the little man in confusion as he pushed Thekla 
 gently aside and stepped across the threshold. His 
 shiny bald head became for a moment a dark red and 
 he looked up menacingly at the tall thin piano teacher 
 who stood close before him, his head bowed with shame.
 
 50 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Answer me, Herr Mayr, did you really forget your- 
 self so far as " 
 
 " I can only beg you to forgive me, sir," stammered 
 Mayr in confusion, running the fingers now of one hand 
 now of the other through his hair. " Please don't be 
 offended. I don't know how it was myself; my hand 
 must have slipped or something; it was only a slap or 
 two as we say." 
 
 Behind her father's back Thekla held out her red 
 swollen hands to her mother and before the consul's 
 indignation could find further words, Frau Burmester 
 crossed the threshold and cried : " Is it possible ! 
 You have dared to lay hands upon my child ? " 
 
 Herr Mayr looked up and answered defiantly : " Oh, 
 it's you, is it, madam? It was your own wish that I 
 should treat your daughter with the utmost severity. 
 If you are not suited " 
 
 " What, Olga? Did you tell him that? " and Herr 
 Burmester turned upon his wife in an outburst of 
 wrath. 
 
 The lady forgot herself. "I?" she screeched. 
 " Better and better ! By this time I suppose I'm to 
 blame for everything." And turning to Herr Mayr: 
 " Do you mean to say that I gave you permission to 
 maltreat my child ? " 
 
 " No one maltreats the child but you yourself," 
 burst out Herr Mayr. " Yes, and I want you to know 
 it. I wanted to tell you so before. It's a sin, an out- 
 rageous crime, the way you persecute your daughter 
 with this piano playing. The girl doesn't want to 
 play and she hasn't any talent. She's just about as 
 musical as my boot here. Let her go walking and get 
 red cheeks ; that's much more sensible. A good, pretty,
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 51 
 
 attractive girl has a lot of things to learn that'll do her 
 a great deal more good. Why should she be compelled 
 to bungle art ? Now you've got my opinion." 
 
 " We haven't asked your opinion," cried Frau Bur- 
 mester in a rage. " And if you don't know how to 
 behave yourself in respectable houses " 
 
 " Yes, of course," interrupted her husband. " I'll 
 pay your stipend for the last month and then I must 
 request you " He pointed towards the door. 
 
 " Certainly, of course," agreed Herr Mayr, nod- 
 ding assent. At the same time his glance passed over 
 the head of the little man and he fastened his brown 
 eyes full of sympathy upon Thekla who during the 
 altercation had crept into a remote corner of the salon 
 and there sat awaiting with curious anxiety the out- 
 come of the scene. 
 
 " Yes, and of course we shall engage another 
 teacher," added the consul somewhat hesitatingly. 
 
 " No, sir, I beg your pardon, that's by no means 
 a matter of course," retorted Herr Mayr. " In fact 
 that is totally barred." 
 
 "What, you take the liberty " 
 
 " Yes, I take the liberty." With three long strides 
 Master Florian was at Thekla's side and seizing her 
 hands so quickly that she had no time to prevent him 
 he held them both in his own powerful left and stroked 
 them gently with his right. "My poor dear young 
 lady, please, please, don't be angry with me any longer. 
 You see, you drove me fairly wild with your miserable, 
 murderous, beastly playing ; but I behaved like a brute. 
 Please make up with me. I promise you solemnly and 
 cross my heart : I'll watch over you and see to it that 
 nothing so low-down as a music teacher ever dares
 
 52 Florian Mayr 
 
 come near you again. So long as I'm on hand, you'll 
 never have to take another piano lesson, sure as my 
 name is Florian Mayr." 
 
 " Oh," sighed Thekla softly. Still half in doubt, 
 half in childlike trust, she raised her large eyes to her 
 stern master and a charming smile flitted across her 
 tearstained face. She resisted no longer but al- 
 lowed him to hold her hands which he stroked and 
 
 " Let my daughter alone ! I forbid you to touch 
 my child ! " cried the consul's lank consort, striding 
 with royal mien towards the pair and thrusting her 
 hand imperiously between them, 
 
 The consul clinched his fist, shook his head, and 
 laughed ironically : " Well, now, see here, Herr Mayr, 
 I'm really a bit curious to know how you would do 
 that You would prevent us from having our daugh- 
 ter take music lessons? Ha, ha, ha, that's altogether 
 too good ! " 
 
 Florian whirled about on his heel and laughed be- 
 nignly in the consul's face. " That's a fact, ha, ha, it 
 is good, why it's great! And my advice to you is, 
 don't try it. I'm sure to hear of it if you let any re- 
 spected colleague of mine into your house with a view 
 to having him give lessons. I shall lie in wait and 
 when I catch him I'll give him such a drubbing that 
 he'll have to go and thank you for it and if it were 
 a professor from the High School ha, ha ! In that 
 case I should take great satisfaction. Sir, I have the 
 honor. Madam, I wish you a very good day. Tell 
 me, Fraulein Thekla, you're not angry with me now, 
 are you ? " 
 
 " Oh, no, indeed, Herr Mayr."
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 53 
 
 And with a comprehensive though somewhat awk- 
 ward bow, Master Florian marched out of the room. 
 
 Herr and Frau Burmester stared at each other 
 speechless. Thekla was radiant. 
 
 As usual a half dozen bounds brought Florian Mayr 
 to the foot of the stairs. Outside the street door, he 
 stopped to breathe a moment. The incident had ex- 
 cited him a little after all. The poor girl! Lord 
 above! The fool parents plagued her absurdly with 
 things for which she was in no way fitted and on top 
 of all that he had beaten her ! " God knows, I am 
 a brute ! " he growled to himself half aloud. He gave 
 his silk hat a push that tipped it a little forward and 
 lent it a melancholy air. Then he stalked down the 
 street. On the stand of a delicatessen shop he noticed 
 some fresh oranges, a rarity at this season of the year. 
 He went in and demanded half a dozen. They were 
 very dear. He swore but he bought them. Then he 
 went on and turned into the Jagerstrasse. At Treu & 
 Nuglisch's he stopped again, gave his hat a flip in front 
 so that it sat on the back of his head and once more 
 denounced himself for a brute. Thereupon he entered 
 the shop and purchased a flask of fine perfume. He 
 now retraced his steps to the Markgrafenstrasse and 
 the house of Consul Burmester. He mounted the 
 stairs four steps at a time and rang the bell as humbly 
 as any beggar. The servant opened. 
 
 " Look here, my dear fellow," said Mayr in a mys- 
 terious whisper. " Will you just do me the favor to 
 call the maid? I've something to say to her in con- 
 fidence." 
 
 Fritz grinned and departed and, sure enough, in a 
 little while Marie appeared. In the meantime Florian
 
 54 Plorian Mayr 
 
 not without a gentle sigh had extracted a thaler from his 
 purse. With this in his hand to give her confidence 
 he beckoned : " I say, Marie, pst ! " 
 
 " Oh, Herr Mayr, no, is it really you 2 " 
 
 " Pst ! Look here, if you'll give these things to 
 Fraulein Thekla without letting her father and mother 
 know, this thaler is yours. Understand ? " With 
 these words he deposited first of all the thaler, then the 
 bag of oranges, and finally the bottle of perfumery in 
 the hands of the maid. 
 
 " But, Herr Mayr, I don't really know " 
 
 " Give me back the thaler, you you, lambkin, 
 you!" 
 
 " All right, all right, I'll 'tend to it," snickered the 
 maid. " Is there any message 2 " 
 
 " A right hearty greeting, that's all. And you 
 .listen, Marie. If they get a new music teacher, you 
 just let me know right away, will you ? Fraulein 
 Thekla knows my address. You'll be no worse off for 
 it. Understand ? " 
 
 " Why, of course, Herr Mayr." 
 
 " That's all right; so that's settled. A right hearty 
 greeting." He nodded to the girl, winked knowingly, 
 and took himself off. 
 
 It occurred to him on the way home that he had 
 promised his Polish friend a position in Consul Bur- 
 mester's house. Florian was a scrupulously conscien- 
 tious man. What he had promised he was accustomed 
 faithfully to fulfill. But in this case he did not stop 
 to think very long. He decided to break his word and 
 at once gave himself absolution in the reflection that 
 it would only be driving out Satan with Beelzebub if 
 he should give this poor good stupid child, instead of a
 
 Herr Mayr Forgets Himself 55 
 
 teacher who only beat her, one who even wanted to 
 marry her. " She may be a goose," he meditated, " but 
 for the noble Pan Prositlaus I think after all she is 
 too good. I'll look about in military circles; perhaps 
 I can find a lieutenant " 
 
 He went home and wrote a postal card to Herr An- 
 tonine Prczewalski, composer, informing him that un- 
 fortunately he was unable to recommend him to Consul 
 Burmester because Fraulein Burmester was not going 
 to take music lessons any longer. Conscious of having 
 done a good deed, he fell into a sunny philanthropic 
 mood. He lighted a cigar and paid Frau Stoltenhagen 
 a visit in the kitchen. 
 
 " Well, my good woman, how do you do to-day ? " 
 he inquired most affably. " Doing well ? Really ? 
 Why, I'm glad. You've seemed to me so depressed of 
 late. Yes, yes, to be sure, a little piece of paper like 
 that does tear so easily. Why, what's the matter ? You 
 are quite flushed. Let me recommend Mayr's health 
 coffee; it is excellent for that sort of congestion. A 
 good conscience and normal digestion, that's what main- 
 tains the equilibrium of body and soul. Fix that 
 firmly in your mind, Frau Stoltenhagen, and you will 
 find that life will appear to you as accommodating 
 and convenient as a chest which any key will fit No 
 more excitement and no more disagreeable surprises. 
 Good morning, Fraulein Frieda, By the way, if 
 you ever wish to marry, don't fail to insert an advertise- 
 ment in the newspapers. With newspapers discretion 
 is always a matter of honor. Do you know what dis- 
 cretion is ? No ? You don't know that ? I've known 
 for a long time that you didn't know that. Well, good 
 day, ladies. I wish you an excellent appetite."
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 Herr Mayr Wants to Forget Himself Again 
 
 morning when Master Florian returned from 
 giving his lessons, he found two letters awaiting him. 
 One was a dainty, exquisitely perfumed missive on 
 pale-blue paper, the first glance at which indicated a 
 young lady as its writer. Florian opened it with 
 curiosity and read: 
 
 " My deaf Herr Mayr: 
 
 Please accept my best thanks for your kind attention. 
 I know of course that a well brought up young lady should 
 not accept presents from gentlemen, unless from relatives 
 or perhaps a fillipeen, but as you are my teacher, I must 
 not be unmannerly. Besides, I shall have eaten up all 
 six oranges by this evening and then they will be gone. 
 The perfumery is so eas) r to hide, and I shall always smell 
 of it when I think of you, and that will surely be very 
 often, because I am so thankful to you, knowing well 
 enough that I have no talent at all, and you, dear Herr 
 Mayr, were the first to tell that to Mamma right out. 
 But it will not do any good after all, for Mamma will not 
 believe that I have no talent, and insists on my continuing 
 to take lessons. I am not angry with you at all, dear Herr 
 Mayr, for I was really awfully stupid in my lesson, and 
 I am sure you did not mean to do it and would not do it 
 again, or I should be too frightened to play at all. I al- 
 ways was afraid of you because you were so strict, but now 
 I would not be afraid any more, because I know you only 
 mean well by me. Papa is not so very angry with you 
 56
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 57 
 
 any more either. He even laughed of course after 
 Mamma had gone out of the room. He thinks you were 
 right after all, but he is afraid that you will be still less 
 able than he to prevent Mamma from employing a new 
 teacher, if she really wants to. Because there are such a 
 lot of piano-teachers and you c.ould not possibly thrash 
 them all, and I think so, too. How then are you going 
 to prevent my taking any more lessons? Please write 
 me to Th. B., Poste restante, Post Office Np. 7, because 
 Mamma would surely not allow you to write me. Thank 
 you once more most cordially, I remain, 
 
 Your obedient pupil, 
 
 THEKLA BURMESTEK, 
 P. S. Marie was delighted with her thaler." 
 
 Florian laughed aloud as he read this engaging little 
 missive. 
 
 " You are a jolly good sort ! " he shouted as he came 
 to the end, and then with quiet satisfaction he read 
 it through once more from the beginning. 
 
 He folded the two closely written pages together and 
 gently caressed the smooth paper. Then he seated him- 
 self at his writing-desk, and, as he was not provided 
 with the wherewithal to carry on a polite correspond- 
 ence, he took a sheet of common note paper and wrote 
 as follows in his large angular hand: 
 
 " My dear young lady: 
 
 Your delightful letter has really lifted a stone from 
 my heart. I am the one who should be thankful that, in 
 spite of my outrageous behavior of yesterday, such an 
 amiable young lady as you should ever care to look at me 
 again, and the more so as she is good enough to forgive 
 me everything and gives me the right to continue to take 
 an interest in her affairs.
 
 58 Florian Mayr 
 
 In regard to the possible candidates for the vacant posi- 
 tion as music-teacher, your father is not altogether wrong, 
 as I could hardly thrash them all. But I would like to 
 pound a few of them to a pulp. Do not fear, I will find 
 a way all right to frighten the gentry off. And if every- 
 thing else fails I would rather run away with you and 
 have you taught the sewing machine at my expense than 
 see you maltreated so without rhyme or reason. 
 
 But as you will hardly care very much about being ab- 
 ducted by me, I must ask you not to submit to everything 
 they do to you, but to assist my efforts in your behalf by 
 getting your own back up a little. I have had so many 
 sad experiences with unreasoning parents that I make bold 
 to assert, that it is the duty of good children to make up 
 for the mistakes of their parents. Do not fail to let me 
 know immediately if danger threatens, and I will come to 
 your assistance, with which I remain, 
 
 Ypur ever devoted, 
 
 FLORIAN MATE." 
 
 He put the letter in an envelope, "which he addressed, 
 and was making preparations to go out and post it, 
 when his eye fell upon the second letter, which he had 
 in the meantime quite forgotten. He tore it open im- 
 patiently and read: 
 
 "My dear Sir: 
 
 Our Peter Gais has just completed his new music-drama, 
 'Satan!' It is the majestic prelude to the sublimely 
 conceived tetralogy, 'Man,' the creation of which will 
 represent in all probability the culmination of his titanic 
 labors, the coronation of the mighty genius of our de- 
 moniac Peter Gais. Confidently assuming that you, too, 
 worthy brother in art, are in close sympathy with the 
 growth and development of the inspired tone-poet, I take
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 59 
 
 the liberty of cordially inviting you to attend the first 
 performance of 'Satan' by its creator, which will take 
 place in my rqoms to-morrow evening at seven. 
 "With the deepest respect, 
 
 EAPHAEL SILBEBSTEIN." 
 
 " Lord, children, don't fill your mouths quite so 
 full ! " growled Florian with a shake of the head. 
 Nevertheless he sat down and wrote a postcard, accepting 
 the invitation with thanks. He was not personally 
 acquainted with the demoniac, inspired, titanic Peter 
 Gais, but he knew that his opus 1 had attracted the 
 attention of Liszt, and several symphonic poems that 
 he had teard aroused in him a desire to meet the 
 man. 
 
 Florian went out and dropped both letter and postal 
 card in the letter-box. He was in such good spirits 
 that, instead of his frugal luncheon and his glass of 
 bad Berlin beer, he treated himself on this occasion to 
 a small bottle of wine, and even that, though Lord 
 knows in what fiendish witch's kitchen the stuff was 
 brewed, did not avail to destroy his good humor. As 
 he drank the last glass of the poisonous red liquid he 
 read for the third time the pale-blue note. It was 
 pleasant to have won such a good, trusting little heart 
 by a manly act. Won? No, he took the strong ex- 
 pression back the instant it occurred to him. For 
 the present it was only a feeling of gratitude. That 
 was quite enough, too, for the little he had done. And 
 he had never been partial to amorous adventures, at least 
 not since his school days in Bayreuth, when a romantic 
 love-affair with a brewer's daughter had ended in dis- 
 appointment and bitterness, for, just as he graduated
 
 60 Florian Mayr 
 
 from the high school, the youthful lady suddenly 
 changed her mind and married an official, subaltern it 
 is true, but yet the possessor of a regular, salary. 
 Since that time no feminine being had ever gained any 
 influence over his inner life. He was no man for 
 women and women were nothing to him. His female 
 acquaintances consisted exclusively of landladies, con- 
 servatory girls, and other " piano geese," and all three 
 of these categories were as wormwood to his soul, ex- 
 cepting indeed when he chose to take them from the 
 humorous side, a process that in itself deprived even 
 the most fascinating among them of all danger. That 
 afternoon found him again at his piano, playing the 
 Liszt etudes with his customary ardor, and his usual 
 healthy sleep was not disturbed that night by intrusive 
 dreams of any description. 
 
 The next morning came a second pale-blue note. It 
 read: 
 
 "Dear Herr Mayr: 
 
 What will you think of me for writing you so soon 
 again, but I am so unhappy and don't know what to do, 
 and have no other friend but you. Mamma has engaged 
 a new teacher for me after all. He was here this morn- 
 ing. He said that he heard Mamma was looking for a 
 teacher for the uncommonly talented daughter of the 
 house; he did not as a general rule give piano lessons, 
 a he was a * creative artist/ but he would regard it as an 
 honor to make an exception in this case, as it was a ques- 
 tion of a family whose sincere devotion to music was so 
 well known in musical circles throughout the capital. 
 Hitherto he had only taught a number of Eussian prin- 
 cesses, on whose estates he had spent years as an honored 
 guest. Then I had to play him something. I played
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 61 
 
 very much worse than I ever did for you, but still he found 
 that I had a very remarkable talent! I had been spoiled 
 by a thoroughly wrong method! Mamma said I have been 
 taking lessons of you. Then he said you were nothing but 
 a wood-chopper and not a pianist. You had no soul and 
 no understanding for the creative artist. In musical cir- 
 cles you were never called anything else but Strong-Mayr, 
 and you had been sued for calling an old lady a * silly 
 goose ' and an * old cow ' ! When you were not working 
 you amused yourself by mixing some sort of stuff with 
 your landlady's coffee so that she and all her family got 
 so ill that they had to send for the doctor ! 
 
 Dear Herr Mayr, I am firmly convinced that every bit 
 of that is just as big a lie as that I have any talent. 
 Please help me if you can. The teacher's name is An- 
 tonine Prczewalski. Mamma liked him very much and 
 engaged him at once. He played one of his own composi- 
 tions too. I suppose I don't understand much about it, 
 but I thought it was horrible ; as you used to say : ' snail 
 pudding with raspberry syrup ! ' And when he plays, he 
 wheezes and snorts through his nose. My father was not 
 at home but he could hardly have done anything about it 
 anyhow. My first lesson is to-morrow at twelve o'clock, 
 and I will try to slip over to the post-office and see whether 
 there is anything from you there or not. That would be 
 a consolation at least. Once more I beg you from my 
 very heart, dear Herr Mayr, please do help me, and it 
 would not harm that new teacher if you were to thrash 
 him soundly, though I don't know whether you know him 
 as intimately as that. 
 
 Well, I shall be at the post-office at half-past eleven, in 
 case you want to tell me anything, and remain, 
 Your faithful pupil, 
 
 THEKLA BURMESTER." 
 
 When Florian Mayr had finished reading this letter,
 
 62 Florian Mayr 
 
 his eyes flashed and the corners of his mouth twitched 
 with satanic joy. He finished his breakfast quickly 
 and got ready to go out. It was snowing, but he never- 
 theless left his umbrella standing and subjected his 
 three walking sticks to careful examination in regard to 
 weight, elasticity, and handiness, finally giving pref- 
 erence to an extremely supple stick made of steel rod 
 wound with hemp and lacquered, with a heavy leaden 
 knob, also covered with hemp, a kind of stick long ago 
 gone out of fashion, that used to be called a " death- 
 dealer." 
 
 Gayly whistling the " cudgeling-motif " from the 
 Meistersinger ("I whacked his back all black and 
 blue"), he sprang down the stairs and proceeded on 
 the double quick to Xo. 2 Schumannstrasse. Up one 
 flight a visiting-card on the door smiled him welcome. 
 "Antonine Prczewalski, Composer," the legend read. 
 He rang energetically. A fat woman in a dirty wrap- 
 per appeared. 
 
 " Is his Honor, the Tone-Poet, at home? " he asked. 
 
 The landlady was somewhat astonished at this 
 strange salutation. 
 
 " Oh, you mean the Polish gentleman ? Oh, yes, he's 
 at home. But I can't let anybody in so early. He's 
 always asleep at this hour." 
 
 " Oh, that doesn't matter, my dear lady," exclaimed 
 Florian naively ; " I'm an old friend of his. He'll be 
 delighted to see me. Just let me come in. I'll get 
 him up all right ! " 
 
 " Very well then, sir, but at your own risk. The 
 gentleman can be very unpleasant when he's wak- 
 ened." 
 
 " Me too ! " remarked Florian ambiguously, as he
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 63 
 
 opened the door pointed out by the fat landlady and 
 entered. 
 
 Prczewalski's rooms consisted of an elegantly fur- 
 nished salon and bed-room. The salon was, it is true, 
 only half as large as Florian's own corner room in the 
 Luisenplatz, but its magnificence was fairly overpower- 
 ing. A rug covered the whole floor, a rug, to be sure, 
 which twenty years ago was not new. In a corner a 
 sofa and three chairs upholstered in green plush stood 
 about a circular table, in the style of fifty years ago. 
 The crocheted tidies, all crumpled up and held together 
 by pins, hung limp from the backs of the chairs. In 
 front of the sofa a Polish newspaper lay on the floor, 
 and the carpet and green plush were all strewn with 
 cigarette ashes. Over the sofa in an oval, gilt frame 
 hung the portrait of the composer in half life size. 
 Above it was fastened a dried-up laurel wreath 
 Against the opposite wall stood a writing-table, upon 
 which there was another portrait of the composer, repre- 
 senting him at the piano, gazing dreamily into the un- 
 known. Round it were grouped a number of cabinet 
 photographs, mostly of decollete young women. In 
 the middle of the room a Bliithner grand piano stood 
 open, and on the rack Chopin's Nocturnes together with 
 a manuscript written in pencil. The composer was evi- 
 dently extracting practical inspiration from a work of 
 his great countryman. Upon the keys of the piano, 
 too, lay cigarette ashes. 
 
 After a short examination of this room consecrated 
 to genius, Florian Mayr stepped to the bed-room door 
 and listened. Absolute silence. He opened the door 
 carefully and looked in. In sweetest slumber lay the 
 handsome Antonine in bed, and one end of his melan-
 
 64 Florian Mayr 
 
 choly mustache waving gently in his zephyrlike 
 breath. About the high alabaster forehead, that must 
 have felt the consecrating kiss of Chopin's muse late 
 into the night, clustered wantonly his dark locks. 
 
 Florian Mayr enjoyed for only half a minute the 
 entrancing spectacle of the slumbering genius, then re- 
 turned to the salon and sat down at the piano, leaving 
 the door wide open. After Beckmesser's lovely melody 
 in the last act of the Meistersinger he intoned the bur- 
 lesque " Morgen ich leuchte im rosigen Schein," 
 whacking out with it, fortissimo, Beckmesser's amazing 
 guitar accompaniment. Then followed immediately 
 the " cudgeling-motif." As a finale he hammered it 
 out with both hands in octaves, but with the left hand 
 half a tone lower than the right ! 
 
 The din was appalling. It was a truly diabolical 
 morning-call, enough to frighten the best conscience 
 in the world out of its sleep. Florian stopped for a 
 moment. Yonder in the bed-room something growled 
 and snorted, and Florian thought he caught the words, 
 " psia Icrew." " How are you, old man ? " he shouted 
 back cheerily. " I was only giving a little au- 
 bade." 
 
 He seized his stick and advanced to the threshold 
 of the bed-room, where he took off his hat and made a 
 comical bow towards the bed. 
 
 Prczewalski raised himself up sleepily and rubbed 
 his eyes, now recognizing his morning caller for the 
 first time. He cleared his throat, wheezed hard a few 
 times and said: 
 
 "What for did you wake me? Beastly low- 
 lived ! What do you want here ? " 
 
 " Dear me, I only wanted to express my thanks for
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 65 
 
 the kind information that you gave yesterday about 
 me." 
 
 Florian said this in the pleasantest tone in the world, 
 putting on his hat without ceremony. Then grabbing 
 the leaden handle of his cane he flourished it up and 
 down over the coverlet until it sang. 
 
 Prczewalski winced every time the thing whistled 
 by his nose. He seized the featherbed in both hands 
 and pulled it over his head, ducking under it for pro- 
 tection. 
 
 " Keep quiet the stick ! " he cried through his nose. 
 " You make me nervous." 
 
 " Oh, never mind," replied Florian, smiling pleas- 
 antly. " You know I always have to have something 
 in my hand to play with so that my fingers won't get 
 stiff, don't you know ? Awfully nice little stick, eh ? " 
 And he made it whiz close by the composer's nose a 
 couple of times. " Wouldn't I like to lay a couple of 
 dozen with it over some really deserving person! You 
 can't think of anyone, can you ? " 
 
 " Go away leave me in peace ! " cried the hand- 
 some Pole, looking out uneasily with one eye from be- 
 hind the featherbed. " I have not the custom to re- 
 ceive visitors so early in the morning." 
 
 Florian put his stick under his arm, stuck his hands 
 in his overcoat pockets and continued, without even 
 noticing Antonine's remark. 
 
 " Look here, how would you act towards a man who 
 said you were a woodchopper and no pianist, eh ? " 
 
 Prczewalski pricked up his ears and shoved back the 
 bedclothes. 
 
 " How would you treat a man, for instance, who as- 
 serted that you were a stupid ass, a dirty ape, a miser-
 
 66 Florian Mayr 
 
 able, deceitful back-biter, and I don't know what else, 
 a stupid idiot of an imitator and no creative artist at 
 all? If I should say all that about you, what would 
 you do ? " 
 
 Prczewalski sat up in bed, ran his hand through his 
 dishevelled hair, snorted in alarm and called out, 
 
 " I shall not stand it ! You have come here to as- 
 sault me. Go away ! " 
 
 " But, my dear colleague, don't get so excited. I'm 
 only speaking hypothetically. I only want to know 
 what to do with the chap who says I called a worthy 
 old lady a l silly goose,' and an ' old cow ' and was be- 
 ing sued for libel, and that I was a poisoner to 
 boot!" 
 
 " That is not true ! I did not say that ! Who told 
 you that?" 
 
 " Well, well, just fancy ! It was you then ! Hm, I 
 must confess I never would have believed it of you. 
 I wouldn't have thought it possible to have so many 
 dirty lies told behind one's back for only ten marks! 
 All right then, just have the goodness to decide whether 
 I shall sue you for libel and show you up before the 
 whole musical world, or whether you prefer to take a 
 damned good licking right here and now ! " 
 
 " Oho ! So ! " snorted Prczewalski, his voice trem- 
 bling with fear. " Khn, khn ! You threaten to strike 
 me ! Oh, you want to assault me, eh ? But I will not 
 have it, no ! Oh, I shall sue you for assaulting me in 
 my own home ! " 
 
 " Oh, never mind, you can do that afterwards," re- 
 plied Florian unconcerned. " But I shall have to 
 thrash you before you can prosecute me, you know.
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 67 
 
 So get up lively, let's get it over as soon as possible ! 
 Bis dot qui cito dad, the Komans used to say ! " 
 
 He raised his stick threateningly in his right hand, 
 while with the left he made a motion towards his vic- 
 tim's curly head, as if to pull him out of bed by the 
 ears. 
 
 The handsome Antonine turned as white as a sheet. 
 He threw himself back upon the pillows, kicked out 
 spasmodically with both feet and endeavored to ward 
 off awkwardly with his arms the attack of the Angel of 
 Wrath, crying out piteously, 
 
 " Let me alone, you low fellow, let me alone ! I 
 shall not stand it 1 " 
 
 Master Florian let his stick fall, took a step back and 
 exclaimed with apparent astonishment, 
 
 " Eh, what's that ? You don't want to be thrashed ? 
 All right all you've got to do is to say so, and we'll 
 make some other arrangement. I'll tell you what, 
 do you give me a written promise never to give lessons 
 in the house of Consul Burmester, and I'll overlook 
 your scoundrelly libel just this once. What do you 
 say? If you like that better, get up and write that 
 down for me." 
 
 " Yes, but go into the other room or I can't get up," 
 sighed Antonine with a feeling of evident relief. 
 
 " Oh, don't mind me," said Florian, grinning good- 
 naturedly. " Hello, there's a door leading into the hall. 
 You'd like to skip out that way, eh ? Oh, no, dear boy, 
 that won't do!" 
 
 The key was on the inside. Florian went to the 
 door, made sure that it was locked, extracted the key 
 and slipped it into his pocket.
 
 68 Florian Mayr 
 
 " So, now we're all right. Please don't waste any- 
 time on your toilette ; I'm in a beastly hurry you know. 
 I suppose you've no objection to my knocking your 
 miserable old piano to pieces a little, while I wait, have 
 you?" 
 
 And without waiting for an answer to this modest 
 demand he went back into the salon, shutting the door 
 nearly to behind him. He took a few heavy steps to- 
 wards the piano, and then returned on tiptoe to the 
 door and waited. He heard the bed creak. The hand- 
 some Antonine rose and now right enough, just as 
 he expected ! Prczewalski was on the point of 
 slamming the door to and bolting it on the inside. But 
 Florian was quicker than he. Thrusting his walking- 
 stick through the crack he easily shoved back the des- 
 perately struggling composer with the weight of his 
 shoulder, and, sticking his head into the bed-room, 
 greeted the discomforted Antonine with a cheerful grin. 
 
 " No, no, old chap, that wasn't what I intended ! 
 Come right in just as you are. You're pretty enough 
 to kiss, pity I'm not a girl. Well, perhaps you'd better 
 put on your dressing-gown, you might catch cold." 
 
 Prczewalski bit his lip and muttered an oath in Pol- 
 ish. There was nothing for it, however, but to slip on 
 his dressing-gown obediently and follow his tormentor 
 into the drawing-room. 
 
 " What do you want with me ? " he asked in a sullen 
 rage. 
 
 " Have the kindness to sit down there, dear friend, 
 and write about like this : 
 
 " ' I, the undersigned, hereby pledge my word of 
 honor not to give Fraulein Thekla Burmester any 
 further instruction in pianoforte playing under any
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 69 
 
 consideration whatever, and not to recommend any 
 other teacher to her. If I should nevertheless break 
 this my sacred word of honor, I hereby acknowledge 
 myself to be a low-lived scoundrel and stand ready to 
 undergo without complaint the thrashing to which Herr 
 Florian Mayr, pianist of this city, has condemned me. 
 Signature and date.' " 
 
 Antonine sat down and wrote. It was evidently no 
 easy task, for he made quite a number of pauses which 
 he filled up with deep sighs and inarticulate grunts. 
 At last he handed the patiently waiting Florian the 
 complete document. The latter looked it through with 
 considerable gravity, and remarked, 
 
 " You've left out the ' low-lived scoundrel ' and the 
 ' thrashing.' " 
 
 Antonine only shrugged his shoulders. He sat there 
 in his chair with pallid features, shaking knees and 
 disordered locks, the very picture of misery. Florian 
 almost felt a tinge of sympathy for him. He folded 
 up the paper and put it in his breast pocket and said, 
 " Well, let's call it all square then. If you don't keep 
 your word you're a low-lived scoundrel all the same, 
 whether you give it to me in writing or not. And you'll 
 get the thrashing too, don't forget that for a moment. 
 I'll keep an eye on you. And now, my dear colleague, 
 I have the honor to wish you a very good morning ! " 
 So saying he tipped his hat, laid the bed-room key on 
 the table and turned towards the door. But the hand- 
 some Antonine sprang up with clenched fists and 
 screamed in uncontrollable fury, 
 
 " Herr Mayr, you are a " 
 
 " What, if you please ? " interrupted Florian, turning 
 and raising his stick threateningly.
 
 70 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Oh, you are a a very extraordinary person ! " 
 continued the other in a cowed whisper. 
 
 " Oh, thanks very much ! " said Florian and left the 
 room. He had scarcely set foot on the stairs before 
 the apartment door was jerked open behind him, and 
 there stood the noble Pole in dressing-gown and bare 
 legs. 
 
 " Oh, you fellow," he screamed as loud as he could, 
 " I have thrown you down the stairs, I have. You 
 know that!" 
 
 Then he retreated with extraordinary celerity and 
 slammed the outside door to. Florian heard him yell 
 in the corridor, 
 
 "Madam Cebrian, you are a witness that I have 
 just thrown this gentleman down the stairs ! " 
 
 Herr Florian Mayr was in uncommonly high spirits 
 and very much pleased with himself as he strolled round 
 to the private conservatory where he taught on this 
 particular morning. In reality his duties kept him 
 there until noon, but at eleven he requested one of his 
 colleagues to take over his pupils, as he had to meet 
 his grandmother at the railway station. The matter 
 was easily arranged and thus Florian Mayr found him- 
 self a few minutes past eleven on the way to Post Office 
 No. 7. There lie was obliged to promenade up and 
 down for a quarter of an hour before his patience was 
 rewarded by the appearance of Fraulein Thekla. As 
 soon as he descried her coming, he stepped into a door- 
 way, where he remained until she came out of the Post 
 Office with his letter in her hand, looking uneasily 
 about her. As she caught sight of Florian she gave a 
 little cry of joyful surprise. He approached her laugh- 
 ingly shaking a threatening finger.
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 71 
 
 " Well, well, young lady ! I know something about 
 you! You receive secret letters poste restante; from 
 young gentlemen too, I fancy, eh ? Oh, if I should tell 
 mamma about that ! " 
 
 Thekla blushed in embarrassment, and replied to 
 this salutation with rather an awkward girlish curtsey. 
 
 " Oh, Herr Mayr, you are only joking," she ex- 
 claimed naively. " You know it was only your letter 
 that I got!" 
 
 " I beg your pardon, my dear Fraulein ! Perhaps 
 I'm not a young gentleman ? " he queried. " To be 
 sure I've got a face like a leathery old church-father 
 in a mediaeval picture. You are evidently not aware 
 how miserably young I am. Twenty-three ! Aha, that 
 makes you stare, doesn't it? Yes ma'am, I'm at the 
 most dangerous age, I mean when one is capable of the 
 most idiotic things." 
 
 " Oh, I don't believe that, Herr Mayr," remon- 
 strated Thekla, looking up at him doubtfully. 
 
 " Indeed I am. I said in my letter that I was going 
 to run off with you. If that isn't idiotic I'd like to 
 know what is ! " 
 
 " What, really ? " cried Thekla, her eyes brightening 
 joyfully. They had walked together round the next 
 corner, and were now strolling down the Jerusalemer- 
 strasse, without really knowing where they were. 
 Florian looked down with a droll smile upon the fresh, 
 pretty girl at his side, to whom the dark plush dress and 
 furs were so becoming. His expression had a good deal 
 of the uncle in it but he was just a little smitten as 
 well. Her charming embarrassment amused him im- 
 mensely. 
 
 " Hm, what do you take me for ? " he went on.
 
 72 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Half-way measures always were hateful to me. Be- 
 fore I'd let anybody else give you piano lessons, I'd 
 rather run off with you myself. That seems to be the 
 only possibility left. Am I not right ? " 
 
 " If you really think so, Herr Mayr," answered 
 Thekla bashfully. She was quite at sea whether he 
 was in earnest or was only poking fun at her " Didn't 
 you get my second letter ? " she added in order to cover 
 her embarrassment. Florian replied in the affirmative 
 and then proceeded to give her a most graphic descrip- 
 tion of his morning visit to the noble Pan Prczewalski. 
 How proud and happy Thekla was! Her cheeks 
 glowed and her eyes danced as she listened eagerly, 
 looking up admiringly at her tall, slim hero, who, 
 armed only with a simple walking-stick, had dared to 
 do battle for her and to invade the lair of the long- 
 haired monster, to which her inexorably musical mamma 
 was ready to sacrifice her. 
 
 " How kind you are, Herr Mayr, " she exclaimed 
 fervently, as he brought his story to a close. " Do you 
 really think he won't come any more ? " 
 
 " We can see about that right now, for to-day at 
 least," replied Florian. " Your lesson was to be at 
 noon, wasn't it ? It will be twelve in a few minutes. 
 We'll just watch." 
 
 "Almost twelve!" cried Thekla in alarm. "Oh, 
 dear me, I must run home as fast as I can. Where are 
 we anyhow? Why we're quite lost! " 
 
 " Oh, nonsense, you needn't go home at all to-day, 
 Fraulein Thekla," laughed Florian. " There's no 
 piano lesson to-day and walking is a good deal more 
 sensible. It was I who prescribed it for you ! " 
 
 " Oh dear," said Thekla anxiously, " I'd rather go
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 73 
 
 to walk with you, Herr Mayr, but I really must be 
 home at twelve. Mamma doesn't know that the Polish 
 gentleman isn't coming, you know. And where shall 
 I say I've been if I don't go home at all ? Oh, what a 
 lot of people there are here! If anyone should recog- 
 nize us ! " 
 
 She began to walk fast in the direction of the Mark- 
 grafenstrasse. She was quite excited and paid hardly 
 any attention to Florian when he teased her about their 
 rendezvous. 
 
 The clock on the French church in the Gendarmen- 
 Markt struck twelve before they reached the house in 
 which the Burmesters lived; and they were still about 
 fifty yards distant from it when they suddenly caught 
 sight of no less a personage than Herr Prczewalski 
 emerging from the Burmesters' door. Thekla was so 
 frightened at sight of him that she was in doubt whether 
 to turn and run or hide behind her tall friend's back. 
 But Florian caught her firmly by the hand and dragged 
 her along without ceremony. A few steps more and 
 they stood directly before the composer, who was walk- 
 ing along with bowed head and half-closed eyes, and 
 was not aware of their approach until it was too late to 
 avoid them. 
 
 "Well, well, there you are again, dear friend," 
 called out Florian jovially, flourishing his stick like any 
 dashing young corps-student to lend emphasis to his 
 salutation. " You haven't troubled yourself to call on 
 the Herr Consul, have you ? You see Fraulein Bur- 
 mester wasn't expecting you to-day." 
 
 Prczewalski gasped for words. " Oh, I see I un- 
 derstand perfectly," he stammered. "You must par- 
 don me, my dear young lady, I am obliged to forego
 
 74 Florian Mayr 
 
 the honor I have explained the Frau mother my rea- 
 sons." 
 
 " Ah, indeed ! " exclaimed Florian in a tone of pre- 
 tended surprise. " Fraulein Burmester will be awfully 
 sorry about that, won't you, Fraulein ? " 
 
 But Thekla in her embarrassment could do nothing but 
 smile. The handsome Antonine took off his hat to the 
 girl, shook back his flowing locks, and said with his 
 usual snort as he replaced his hat upon his brow, 
 
 " Gracious Fraulein will excuse me, I am in a hurry. 
 Frau mamma was in great anxiety about you. She 
 will be much relieved to hear you were in such excellent 
 company ! " 
 
 And so saying he set himself in motion without 
 vouchsafing Mayr so much as a look. The latter took 
 off his hat and bowed low, calling out hilariously, 
 
 " I have the honor, my dear colleague ! Uncom- 
 monly pleased to see you again ! " 
 
 And laughing heartily, he caught Thekla by the hand 
 and strode off with his long legs, dragging her with 
 him. 
 
 But he had not gone far when he felt a hard object 
 in contact with his shoulder, and, turning round sud- 
 denly, beheld before him the handsome Antonine, who 
 had caught up with him and had tapped him on the 
 shoulder with the handle of his umbrella. 
 
 " I forbid it ! " snorted the Pole ; " I forbid it posi- 
 tively ! I do not know you. Do you understand ? I 
 do not want persons I do not know to salute me ! " 
 
 Thus delivering himself, he turned upon his heel and 
 strode off with his nose in the air. 
 
 Florian watched him a while with an amused smile, 
 then he cried in a tragicomic tone,
 
 Wants to Forget Himself Again 75 
 
 " Woe is me, I am undone ! " 
 
 But Thekla was hardly in a state of mind at that mo- 
 ment to appreciate humor. 
 
 " Oh dear, oh dear, what shall I say when I get 
 home ? " she cried anxiously. 
 
 " The truth of course ; what else ? I will be re- 
 sponsible for everything, my dear young lady ! " 
 
 And with a last reassuring press of the hand he took 
 leave of her at her door.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 Satan 
 
 THAT evening Florian Mayr went to Herr Raphael 
 Silberstein's to hear the music-drama Satan. He ar- 
 rived a little late but there was no need to tip-toe into 
 the room so cautiously for just at that moment l j eter 
 Gais had let loose all hell. A Bechstein concert-grand 
 which had seen some twenty years of service trembled 
 under the ponderous paws of its gifted tamer. Rum- 
 bling tremolos, octaves roaring in the deepest bass, 
 struck mariellando, the clanking rattle of chords of the 
 diminished seventh in wild disorder, chromatic runs, 
 foam dashing up and falling back, flashing tongues of 
 flame sharp-pointed, the reverberation of thunder in the 
 bowels of the earth, groaning contra-bass darkness and 
 lurid treble lightning that was the tone-picture of 
 hell, that was the decorative style al fresco. 
 
 Florian Mayr remained standing by the door and at 
 first took no notice of the assembled company. This 
 was a kind of music that really made it hard for one to 
 see, almost to hear. But the force and fire of the in- 
 terpretation could not fail to make an impression as 
 well upon the musician as upon the layman. 
 
 Peter Gais in his outward appearance had five-eighths 
 Beethoven, two-eighths Rubinstein, and one-eighth of in- 
 congruous elements which were thus probably his own 
 Gaisic contribution. He was barely of medium height, 
 thickset, his head very bulky, still more bulky his nose 
 76
 
 Satan 77 
 
 which was a formless lump ; his forehead was high- 
 arched and displayed striking musical bumps, the blond 
 eyebrows were scarcely noticeable, the round blue eyes 
 strongly protruding, the mouth large and brutal, but 
 the lips firm and energetic; the whole face unhealthy, 
 pale, cheese-colored, and entirely beardless; his yellow- 
 ish gray hair, smoothed back from his forehead without 
 a parting, was long but not luxuriant. Leaning for- 
 ward, his lips tightly closed, he stared at his manuscript 
 and manipulated the keyboard with the strength of 
 four hands. Behind him sat Eaphael Silberstein, 
 touching from motives of pure reverence only the utter- 
 most corner of his tipped-up chair and looking over 
 the shoulder of the mighty genius at the manuscript to 
 turn the leaves for him. He was taller than Peter 
 Gais by fully two heads, very lank and slender ; he had 
 a pitch-black shock of hair kept closely cropped and an 
 unsightly black beard under the large, unmistakable 
 nose of his race. Had it not been for this altogether 
 too obtrusive nose, one might almost have called Raphael 
 Silberstein a handsome young man for he had the smooth 
 round forehead of a madonna, heavy black eyebrows, 
 the large deepset eyes of an enthusiast, and a pale but 
 clear complexion. In the expression of his face and 
 in the awkward attitudes of his abnormally long limbs 
 there was a certain something that was childlike and 
 touching which, however, by reason of the nose was 
 constantly in danger of becoming ridiculous. 
 
 The storm of hell subsided. After a few staccato 
 chords came a gloomy and impressive theme, obviously 
 for the brasses, probably the " motif of Satanic Maj- 
 esty." A young girl, small, very slim, with the large 
 eyes of a martyr in her pale little face which was
 
 78 Florian Mayr 
 
 framed in a wilderness of soft, dark brown locks that 
 fell luxuriantly to her shoulders, rose noiselessly from 
 her chair near the door and handed Florian Mayr a 
 hectograph text of Satan and pointed out the passage 
 which had now been reached. 
 
 He read : " The devils and the damned flee into the 
 glowing, rocky gorges. Satan rises from the depths, 
 laughs contemptuously after them, spreads his mighty, 
 bat-like pinions, and mounts a throne of solid rock at 
 the right." And then followed a long monologue of 
 Satan which was, indeed, in the highest degree char- 
 acteristic of the lord of darkness for it remained abso- 
 lutely obscure what the gentleman really wanted to 
 say. It was a wilderness of high-sounding words done 
 into thoroughly bad verse. This much only seemed 
 to be conveyed, namely, that his infernal majesty pur- 
 posed to seduce 'a fair Christian saint who at that mo- 
 ment was confined in the cell of a Eoman circus, trem- 
 blingly awaiting the hour when she should be thrown 
 to the wild beasts. What it was that had attracted 
 Satan to this poor girl in particular was for the time 
 being in no wise discernible. 
 
 But at this point Peter Gais began to sing and Florian 
 Mayr shut his book to listen, like the rest of the com- 
 pany, reverently. But this it was easier to resolve to 
 do than to do it, for Peter Gais sang as wretchedly as 
 only a German composer can. He had not the slightest 
 trace of a voice, the notes seemed to choke him, the 
 " r*s " he gargled in the back part of his throat, and 
 moreover with his wildly protruding eyes and his mouth 
 diagonally open he presented so strange a spectacle that 
 less respectful natures found it difficult to preserve a 
 becoming gravity. But they soon became accustomed
 
 Satan 79 
 
 to the lack of grace and beauty in the delivery. At 
 all events the composer knew how to bring out the 
 dramatic accents; he struck the notes firmly in the 
 middle so that one could at least get a notion of the 
 melodic construction ; in all passages that were too high 
 for him he lapsed into rhythmic recitative. After a 
 while, to be sure, his voice deserted him completely and 
 he began to whistle in a full tremolo. That at all events 
 was more agreeable to listen to than his diabolical sing- 
 ing, although of course, it was more difficult to follow 
 the progress of the drama than before, despite his faulty 
 rendering of the text. 
 
 After paying strict attention for half an hour, Pierian 
 Mayr was unable to make either head or tail to it, al- 
 though he repeatedly sought enlightenment from the 
 book. At last with a gesture of appeal he turned to 
 the maiden of the dark locks and this remarkable crea- 
 ture, without having followed the book at all, was 
 actually able to find the passage they had just reached. 
 Obviously she knew the composition almost by heart. 
 Florian would have been glad to question her more 
 closely concerning the uncanny relations between Satan 
 and the saint but his very first attempt to whisper a 
 question to her was rebuked with a look so threatening 
 that he abandoned his presumptuous undertaking. 
 Strange, that threatening look! It was aimed at him 
 and had hit him, that he felt, but yet it had glanced by 
 him at an angle of some forty degrees. The dark girl 
 with the face of a martyr was crosseyed! Too bad, 
 with her gentle anaemic beauty! Florian had seated 
 himself on a foot rest close by her and was lost in the 
 contemplation of her extremely fine profile. On the 
 other side of her sat a gentleman who, it was clear, was
 
 80 Florian Ma^r 
 
 zealously engaged in the same occupation, a tall, slender 
 man with dark hair, reddish Henri-quatre beard, black 
 eyebrows that grew together, and with spectacles upon 
 a nose that was too short. The gentleman seemed to be 
 wholly engrossed in the dark girl and little interested 
 in Satan. Florian Mayr, too, felt less and less under 
 the ban of the whistling, hoarsely groaning Titan who 
 was now pounding the piano almost with his fists. As 
 a confirmed Wagnerite and an enthusiastic devotee of 
 Liszt, he had a well-trained stomach, capable of di- 
 gesting prodigious masses of sound; nevertheless after 
 half an hour of attentive listening even his nervous sys- 
 tem began to rebel energetically against Satan's music. 
 In fact Peter Gais was in music a man of the violent pas- 
 sions: Hate, Vengeance, Rage, Lust, Scorn, these he 
 knew how to depict in glaring but nevertheless im- 
 pressive colors, but he almost entirely lacked the ability 
 to express the tender emotions. The pious ecstasy of 
 the saint which came in the second scene proved to be 
 pitifully trivial, and the chorus of Christians sounded 
 like the monotonous sing-song of some amateur musical 
 club. It was, therefore, not surprising that very soon 
 this music should tire the listener, especially one trained 
 in the modern school to whom homophonic music dealing 
 only with harmonic and dynamic effects, made no ap- 
 peal ; it must all produce a brutal effect upon the nerves 
 and even the most good-natured nerves cannot long 
 endure that sort of thing. At first Florian Mayr him- 
 self was dazzled by the wealth of color in this genuinely 
 dramatic music; then for a time he had admired the 
 profuse flow of invention that could originate such strik- 
 ingly characteristic motifs ; but now he was hungry and 
 thristy for polyphonies, for some intricate contrapuntal
 
 Satan 81 
 
 work. All of this had, so to speak, been dumped out; 
 titanic, to be sure, just as great masses of rock are im- 
 pressive, piled in wild confusion one on top of the 
 other as a good honest earthquake in its wrath will 
 sometimes heap them up but for the finer handiwork of 
 God who causes the tenderest little plants to twine and 
 blossom around the huge bowlders, Peter Gais was 
 painfully lacking in appreciation. 
 
 For an hour and a quarter Florian Mayr had been 
 doing his best; he could listen no longer. He sat and 
 admired the dark-haired girl, who still continued to 
 stare fixedly, so pale and serious, with her chin thrown 
 forward, one eye on the composer and the other some- 
 where around the corner to the left; she did not allow 
 herself to be disturbed in the slightest degree by the 
 circumstance, which would have brought blushes to the 
 face of any normal young girl, namely, that she was 
 sitting in the cross-fire, as it were, of the admiring 
 glances of two men, one to the right of her, the other 
 to the left. Florian now found time also to bestow 
 some attention upon the other guests. He discovered a 
 few familiar faces among them; most, however, were 
 strangers to him. Enthroned on the sofa, erect and 
 scrupulously rigid, sat a rotund little elderly lady with 
 the face of a small pullet, youthfully smooth and in- 
 finitely goodnatured. She blushed when anyone looked 
 at her and from time to time she heaved a gentle long- 
 drawn sigh. It was the composer's mother. Beside 
 her, reclining comfortably in the corner of the sofa, her 
 legs crossed, sat a young lady whom Florian had re- 
 cently heard play at the Singakademie, Ilonka Badacs, 
 an Hungarian pianist, who, to advertise her concert, 
 had called herself a favorite pupil of Liszt, at which
 
 82 Florian Mayr 
 
 moreover Herr Mayr had really taken serious offence, 
 for he perceived that, although she had temperament, 
 she was unpardonably careless of her technique. Ilonka 
 Badacs had wickedly wide, ivory-black eyes with whites 
 of pure porcelain, a large sensual mouth, glorious 
 teeth, a genuine Magyar cut of countenance, and a 
 frightful quantity of powder on a complexion thai was 
 not very clear. In an armchair next to her sat a cor- 
 pulent songstress with a pug nose, looking pleased and 
 unenlightened. Another young lady, tall, raw-boned, 
 slim, and very intelligent-looking, sat on the opposite 
 side of the round table. She was a young singer who 
 had recently attracted attention by her splendid con- 
 tralto voice. Gentlemen were in the majority : besides 
 the already mentioned profile-admirer with the red- 
 dish Henri-quatre, there were five very young lads and 
 a middle-aged gentleman in a velvet jacket, the very 
 type of a handsome man with flowing hair, a dark 
 mustache, and a lofty brow. He looked altogether 
 too intelligent to be a tenor; he might perhaps be a 
 violinist. Finally, the only old man present, and 
 doubtless the guest of honor, was the conductor of the 
 Royal opera, a stout, thickset person with a bald head, 
 mixed gray beard, spectacles, and a red nose. 
 
 Satan, the introduction to the tetralogy Man, had 
 only one act but what an act that was ! When, after 
 an hour and a half of hard work, the composer rose 
 from the piano stool exhausted and asked for a short 
 rest, only about half of the task, according to the in- 
 formation vouchsafed by the dark-haired girl, had been 
 surmounted. Everybody got up and stretched, no- 
 body knew what to say. Raphael Silberstein stood 
 awkwardly leaning over his genius of a friend, still
 
 Satan 83 
 
 overtopping him by two heads, and he pressed his hand 
 in silence. He doubtless thought that the general 
 speechlessness meant that all were awestruck. Then 
 on tip-toe but with squeaking boots he glided over to 
 the guest of honor and whispered radiantly : " Well, 
 what do you say to that, Herr Hofkapellmeister ? " 
 
 The stout old official, the last to rise, now struggled 
 out of his comfortable chair, held his hand before his 
 mouth, and whispered up to the towering Silberstein: 
 " Yes, yes, that was pretty good. But, do you know, 
 with all that musical hell-charm one gets such a thirst 
 now, you know, if I could get a glass of beer, why 
 that's just what I'd like ! " This conductor was a 
 native of Munich and in the Imperial capital he made 
 a special point of playing this part of an aboriginal 
 Bavarian both in speech and in manners. 
 
 Raphael Silberstein whispered that a light repast as 
 well as something to drink had been provided and then 
 humbly asked the composer if he would allow the com- 
 pany to partake of a little bodily refreshment. He 
 then threw open the folding doors which led to the ad- 
 joining room and with an embarrassed smile and in a 
 low voice invited his guests to help themselves to sand- 
 wiches, beer, and punch. 
 
 In the midst of the general movement towards the 
 dining-room, Raphael Silberstein seized Florian Mayr 
 by the arm and led him up to the composer who still 
 stood by the piano, wiping the perspiration from his 
 brow. He made the two gentlemen acquainted. 
 
 " I've already had the honor once," said Florian. 
 " I don't know if you still remember " 
 
 Peter Gais nodded and, smiling absentmindedly, gave 
 Florian his hand.
 
 84 Florian Mayr 
 
 It was now necessary to say something; but how 
 formulate a judgment in such haste? Florian looked 
 down at his boots and up at the ceiling ; at last he burst 
 out : " My God, how you did sweat ! " 
 
 Peter Gais smiled ironically. " You are quite right, 
 Herr ? " he said sharply. 
 
 " My name is Mayr," said Florian a little sheep- 
 ishly. " But, for a fact, you made hell so hot, mu- 
 sically, I mean, 'twould have been no wonder if we'd 
 all been sweating. That's the sort of music, ha! ha! 
 It fairly gives out heat, ha! ha! magnificent! Now, 
 do we get to heaven next ? " 
 
 The composer shrugged his shoulders impatiently 
 and with a frown turned to his faithful Kaphael. " My 
 dear friend, it seems to me you have not prepared your 
 guests properly. This gentleman has no idea whatever 
 please, won't you address yourself to the librettist ? " 
 
 Herr Silberstein hurried away to drag the poet out 
 of the crowd around the buffet The poet came. He 
 was carrying a glass of punch; a piece of bread and 
 sausage had just disappeared into his extraordinarily 
 large mouth. A second piece of sausage he held in his 
 hand. His head was shaped like a rather sharp-pointed 
 gourd and by far the greater part of it consisted of 
 forehead. On top of the highest peak of this brow 
 rose a thicket of pale blond bristles and on each half of 
 his upper lip some five or seven equally blond hairs 
 twined sinuously. 
 
 " May I make the gentlemen acquainted : Herr 
 Florian Mayr, pianist, Herr Emanuel Schrempf of 
 Konigsberg, the author of the drama." 
 
 Thereupon the host hastened away to drag forth an- 
 other victim and force him to pass judgment
 
 Satan 85 
 
 Florian maintained that this meeting with the writer 
 of Satan gave him extraordinary pleasure. To this 
 civility Herr Schrempf was for the moment unable to 
 respond, as it was first necessary to remove the obstruc- 
 tion of sausage from his throat. He chewed with ac- 
 celerated speed, raised his glass to Florian, and with 
 an effort said : " Pros't ! " The acquaintanceship 
 was thus begun in due form. In order to respond to 
 the amiable poet's toast Florian had to procure some- 
 thing to drink. In doing this he found himself be- 
 side the dark-haired girl and he offered to pour out a 
 glass of punch for her. 
 
 " If you like," replied the fair one curtly. Then 
 she turned again to the gentleman with the reddish 
 whiskers with whom she had been conversing. " It's 
 the highest time anyhow," Florian heard her say, " that 
 Wagner was superseded." 
 
 The gentleman smiled ironically as he replied: 
 ." Would it not be better to wait and see what Wagner 
 himself can give us ? You know, we still have Parsifal 
 to look forward to in Bayreuth." 
 
 "Oh, fudge! Parsifal!" retorted the girl, turning 
 up her nose, " Christian mysticism, asceticism, senile 
 impotence ! " 
 
 " Good heavens ! " exclaimed the gentleman, " why 
 you're as bitter as gall." 
 
 Florian at this juncture handed her the filled glass 
 and said, laughing : " According to that then we 
 might as well kill off all our great artists between the 
 ages of fifty and sixty ? You are radical, by Jove ! 
 But do you know, Fraulein, I'm willing to maintain 
 that there's a line of limitation on the side of youth- 
 fulness also."
 
 86 Florian Mayr 
 
 " What do you mean by that ? " inquired the somber 
 maiden. Her voice was sweet and winsome and just 
 a little bit clouded. 
 
 " I think this gentleman understands me," answered 
 Florian, indicating the reddish whiskers. The gentle- 
 men introduced themselves. The reddish whiskers 
 called himself Baron von Hied. He was a young 
 author whose name had recently become generally 
 known through a humorous sketch of his about a pair 
 of old trousers. His intimates, however, were aware 
 that he himself was inclined to place a higher estimate 
 upon his talents as a composer than upon those as an 
 author. 
 
 In fact he was a dilettante in all the arts, played 
 seven instruments, spoke seven languages, and acknowl- 
 edged seven different fatherlands. 
 
 " Shall we tell her ? " asked the complex and versatile 
 baron in a bantering tone, as he winked at Florian 
 Mayr and jerked his thumb in the direction of the 
 little maiden. 
 
 " Oh dear ! If you only want to make fun of me, 
 I'd rather go away," snapped the dark-haired one. 
 " It's a great pity anyhow that a genius like Gais should 
 scatter his pearls before people like you." 
 
 " Well, I like that ! " exclaimed the baron involun- 
 tarily and Florian Mayr said with a good-humored 
 laugh : " All right, let's be friends and call each other 
 by our first names." 
 
 But the girl of the dark hair tried to get away ; she 
 was in a rage; the baron, however, held her firmly 
 by the hand and said with kindly decision : " Stop ! 
 That won't do at all. You'll stay right here. And 
 now, if you please, you sweet little wildcat, let us have
 
 Satan 87 
 
 your answer to one question. How is it possible to be 
 such a charming girl with such a pale, inscrutable 
 Medusa-head, and such mysterious eyes Oh Lord ! 
 Oh Lord ! Do you know what you are destined for I " 
 
 " To listen to stale flattery ? " 
 
 " Stale or not, that too. But your real destiny ia 
 to lie upon a white bearskin, clad in black velvet with 
 bare arms and, if possible, bare feet in very small 
 slippers and to play with a small black panther. May 
 I be permitted to present you with the polar bear's 
 skin the next time I get a good-sized check from my 
 publishers ? " 
 
 The dark-haired maiden replied without change of 
 expression : "Do you think to intoxicate me with such 
 nonsense, Baron ? You have begun much too late. 
 Men have no more power over me." 
 
 " The deuce ! Why, how old are you if I may ask ? " 
 
 " Eighteen, old enough to have completely done 
 with men. You know very well, you can't deny it, 
 that you are all animals where we women are concerned, 
 if only we are young and beautiful. How can anyone 
 seriously concern herself with a class of human beings 
 that have remained so far behind in their develop- 
 ment?" 
 
 " My poor child, what men you must have met ! " 
 said the baron in a kindly tone with sudden earnestness. 
 
 " Men ? " she burst out. " Only two, the rest are 
 monkeys. But I know the creative genius and I know 
 the feeling, sympathetic heart; that's enough for me." 
 With these weighty words she slipped away between 
 the two men and joined a group in the other corner of 
 the room. 
 
 " By the creative genius of course she means Peter
 
 88 Florian Mayr 
 
 Gais," whispered the baron to Florian Mayr, " and the 
 feeling sympathetic heart is her own father." 
 
 "Who is her father?" 
 
 " Hush, softly ! There he stands, the handsome man 
 in the velvet jacket. Didn't you know the girl ? Her 
 name is Libussa Tomatschek. Her father is the cele- 
 brated violinist, Toby Tomatschek. He doesn't play 
 any more, it's true ; hasn't for a long time but Joachim 
 and Sarasate e tutti qwanti are nothing but lousy little 
 boys beside him ; this statement he will be very glad to 
 confirm if you ask him. Now the man writes musical 
 criticisms, rather flowery but on the whole not bad." 
 
 " And the girl ? " inquired Florian. 
 
 " Well, you see what she is. He has completely 
 turned her head. She's simply unendurable, the little 
 toad, and yet she could be so charming if youth and 
 charm and reason and everything had not been driven 
 out of her by this 'genius' craze in which she was 
 brought up. And now the ' creative genius ' will 
 probably give her the final blow. Just think of it, her 
 great sympathetic heart she has placed at the disposal 
 of the Titan Gais, and acts as nurse for his wife and 
 children, this child of eighteen! Did you notice 
 her little numbed hands ? She no longer gets even her 
 night's rest; she looks starved, too. The Titan treats 
 her like a dog, they say, and she in return for this 
 worships him. Naturally his wife is jealous . See, 
 there sits mamma Gais, the poor little hen. She goes 
 through life sighing and she is so in love with her 
 great son ! As recompense, of course, she's shamefully 
 maltreated. Oh, it must be a fine vocation to be a 
 Titan's mother ! " 
 
 Florian Mayr listened attentively. " When I hear
 
 Satan 89 
 
 things like that," he said thoughtfully, " it always 
 makes my right hand itch. I believe that's what's the 
 matter with mankind to-day: it doesn't get pummeled 
 enough. By the way, didn't you write an article a 
 little while ago about the Titan ? It seems to me I 
 saw your name to it." 
 
 " Yes, I did," replied the baron. " I cannot deny 
 it, I was a bit overhasty. When I wrote that about the 
 Titan, I hadn't heard Satan." 
 
 " Well, what do you think of him ? In that article 
 you gave him a tremendous puff." 
 
 " Yes, and I do really think that the man has the 
 makings of a genius in him, but it is unfortunate for 
 him that his works could not have been brought before 
 the public properly. As it is, he has lost all power of 
 self-criticism, while the few he always has around him, 
 immature young men and crazy females, adore him un- 
 conditionally and have cultivated in him a species of 
 madness, a big head, which probably soon enough will 
 ruin his creative power entirely. Do you imagine 
 that my article satisfied him in the least? His poor 
 mother came to thank me with tears of joy in her eyes 
 but the great Peter has obviously considered me ever 
 since more of a cretin than ever and Raphael Silberstein 
 under the pseudonym of ' Germanicus ' has already 
 made sport of me and my article in the papers. You 
 know, there is a sheet in which ' Germanicus ' is per- 
 mitted to make his offerings at the shrine of Peter 
 Gais without restraint. Well, and our" friend Silber- 
 stein do you know him at all intimately ? " 
 
 " No, I only know that he plays the piano very well 
 but very coldly." 
 
 " Yes, well, you see, that is another remarkable char-
 
 90 Florian Mayr 
 
 acter. The young man is incredibly industrious. His 
 whole life long he has worked and struggled, against 
 his parents, against his talents, against his race, his 
 life has been one ceaseless exhausting battle in spite 
 of the fact that as a well-to-do independent man he 
 might have had things so comfortable. He is an idealist 
 and, if I read him aright, a candidate for suicide. 
 Because he had great technical gifts for piano playing, 
 he thought he was a born musician but his parents 
 would not hear of it. So he took up Egyptology and 
 became a scholar. He took his doctor degree at twenty- 
 two and now he wants to qualify here as instructor. 
 Meanwhile, however, both his parents have died and he 
 has yielded once more to his passion for music; he is 
 quite aware that he is not a creative artist but now he 
 hopes to get into the history of music in the tow of a 
 genius. Gais can't endure him, makes fun of him con- 
 stantly, but he accepts his pecuniary assistance just 
 the same. The clouds of incense with which the poor 
 young fellow envelopes him he sniffs up graciously. 
 The worst of it is that the good Kaphael understands 
 music a good deal too well not to find out some day that 
 he has over-estimated his idol and the awakening will 
 be a terrible thing for him. I'm afraid he'll hang him- 
 self, if he doesn't go into a monastery. It was Gais's 
 music, you know, that converted him to Christianity." 
 
 At this point the conversation was interrupted by 
 Fraulein Ilonka Badacs, the Hungarian pianist, who 
 came up to them and wanted to know: "Who was 
 maiden crazy with one large eye straight out and one 
 large eye alongside?" She spoke brokenly with a 
 trong Hungarian accent 
 
 The baron informed her briefly about Libussa Tomat-
 
 Satan 91 
 
 schek whereupon Fraulein Ilonka took him by the 
 waistcoat button with pleasant familiarity and said; 
 " Do you know, my dear Baron, how maiden crazy must 
 be cured?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, I think I know a remedy," replied the 
 baron laughing. 
 
 " Ah, bravo ! You have understood me. Go you 
 make up to her." 
 
 " Must it be at once, Fraulein Badacs ? " 
 
 " Why, yes. I so sorry for poor little kitten. If 
 you make her again well very soon, I show you some- 
 thing pretty." 
 
 " Ah, I know, probably little foot yours ? " said the 
 Baron, imitating her manner and laying his finger 
 knowingly upon his nose. 
 
 Proud and radiant, Fraulein Ilonka seized the 
 abashed Florian Mayr by the arm and said : " Look 
 at that, my dear sir, so famous is my pretty foot, baron 
 has already heard of it. What is your name, my dear 
 sir?" 
 
 " Florian Mayr, at your service." 
 
 " Florian Mayr ? Oh, you very famous too. I've 
 heard of you. At my concert you have said to a 
 gentleman that I play like little pig but have fire of 
 the devil. The gentleman told me, he was dear friend 
 of mine." 
 
 Florian laughed outright. " Well, I say, that is 
 rough; I was fairly caught that time. Are you very 
 angry with me ? " 
 
 "Why, of course not, among professional col- 
 leagues ! I've been told you play very finely 
 grand style is it true ? " 
 
 Florian shrugged his shoulders. " Judge for your-
 
 92 Florian Mayr 
 
 self. Perhaps there'll be an opportunity some time. I 
 shall be glad to play for you." 
 
 " All right, shall be delighted. -Where you live, 
 Herr Mayr?" 
 
 He gave her his address and added : " Will you 
 write me when and where I may meet you some day ? " 
 
 " Oh, nonsense, I come see you if I don't disturb 
 you." 
 
 " Then you would have to come in the morning be- 
 fore ten or in the evening after six," replied Florian 
 slightly embarrassed. " During the day I have a great 
 many lessons to give. That is, I'm not exactly in 
 shape to receive ladies." 
 
 " That's nothing among colleagues." This ended 
 the matter so far as she was concerned, so she jumped 
 to another topic. " Tell me, Herr Mayr, what do you 
 think of Peter Gais? Honestly he has fire of the 
 devil too I was carried away, of course, but, you 
 know, I not at all like to give him a kiss, not for ten 
 gulden!" 
 
 " At that price I'd not do it myself," rejoined Florian, 
 laughing. Then they entered into a serious conversa- 
 tion about the composition they had just heard and in 
 the course of this the sprightly Hungarian displayed 
 excellent musical taste and judgment. Suddenly she 
 threw out the question : " Tell me, Herr Mayr, have 
 you not been with Liszt yet ? " 
 
 He had not dared as yet, he said and again felt em- 
 barrassed. He gave enthusiastic expression to his rev- 
 erence for the great Master and then with eager curiosity 
 asked her how she had managed to get at him and if 
 she really were a favorite pupil of his.
 
 Satan 93 
 
 " But, dear Herr Mayr," she replied, " that is very 
 simple. I went there and I played for the Master." 
 
 " Well, and then did he right away ? " 
 
 " Then the Master laughed very friendly oh, he 
 is such a dear, and he patted me on cheeks and all 
 around and said: 'Brava! brava! Pussta! Bold- 
 ness! I like it much Eljen!' I laughed too. He 
 said I had very pretty teeth. I begged him very 
 sweetly to let me stay. I didn't understand what he 
 said but I stayed. I studied hard and learned lots. 
 Three years I go around with him, Rome, Buda- 
 pest, Weimar. I had a little money and when little 
 money was gone dear Master paid for everything. O, 
 the Master is so very good man ! He always gave me 
 recommendations for concert and said I was his bete 
 noire, une jolie bete a pattes mechantes. Now can I 
 call myself his favorite pupil ? " 
 
 They had got thus far when Raphael Silberstein in- 
 terrupted the eating, drinking, and chatting with the 
 request that all should return to the music room to hear 
 the second part of Satan. Florian Mayr felt an un- 
 easy conscience when he thought of the composer be- 
 cause he had not made use of the interval to inform 
 himself properly concerning the text. In going out he 
 caught the poet and begged for a condensed explana- 
 tion which might serve at a pinch. 
 
 In conclusion Herr Schrempf added : " I beg you, 
 Herr Mayr, not to judge me by this text ; it is the out- 
 come of very singular circumstances. Herr Gais gave 
 me no freedom at all. He changed everything about. 
 Then he would sit down at the piano and play and 
 screech and rage, that's the way he wanted it, that's
 
 94 Florian Mayr 
 
 the way I'd got to write it. It is really nothing but 
 words furnished for music which was already written." 
 
 " Why did you put up with it ? " 
 
 " Oh, you know, what can one do ? After all Herr 
 Gais is possessed of a demon; it's impossible to op- 
 pose him." 
 
 " Oh, I see." 
 
 The company took seats, new groups were formed, 
 and in passing Florian heard the court-conductor say 
 to the composer in broad Bavarian : " Yes, yes, yes, 
 you're right. It's a horse's work, that score! All re- 
 spect ! When the general-intendant sees that, he'll fall 
 right off the perch, don't you know ? Wagner wouldn't 
 have been given at the opera house if he'd had his way." 
 
 " You think, then, there is no prospect of getting 
 Satan produced at the opera house ? " asked Peter Gais 
 with twitching nostrils. 
 
 " Don't forget, I beg of you, Robert the Devil is still 
 in the repertory! However, you just try it; perhaps 
 the general-intendant will propose that you make a 
 ballet out of it." 
 
 Florian made his own comments upon all this as 
 he sought out a place between Ilonka Badacs and Baron 
 von Eied. In what frame of mind would the Titan 
 take up the further rendering of his work! That he 
 had composed it in an uninterrupted fever of inspira- 
 tion, drawing upon what was his own and what was 
 universal, not in stammering imitation nor with the 
 laborious patching of a bungling second-hand talent, that 
 was indisputable; he had given his best and, putting 
 forth all his energy, he had endeavored to perform his 
 work for this company. And what had been his re- 
 ward? One had told him how terribly he was sweat-
 
 Satan 95 
 
 ing and another had acknowledged that it was " horse's 
 work " ! Most of them had said nothing at all but had 
 eaten and drunk and busied themselves with their own 
 affairs. And these were the more considerate ones, for 
 it might still in their case be assumed that they had un- 
 derstood as long as they had not deliberately demon- 
 strated the contrary. Raphael Silberstein, his own 
 mother, and a few of the very young people did, to be 
 sure, worship him but then that he knew beforehand. 
 Yes, in this moment, Florian Mayr understood what 
 the martyrdom of a creative artist must be, of one to 
 whom it was denied ever to produce his work in the 
 form in which he had planned it before the great 
 public. And yet each separate individual of these cruel 
 people was personally innocent; surely there was not 
 one among them who was not impressed with the fact 
 that here was a genuine artist expending all his en- 
 ergies to wring from them some intelligent apprecia- 
 tion of his work. Notwithstanding this no one was 
 able to utter anything but platitudes which could only 
 exasperate him. 
 
 Florian sat down with the firm purpose, at least so 
 far as he was concerned, of following the performance 
 with seriousness and respect ; but to carry out this pur- 
 pose was not so easy; with the best intentions in the 
 world he could not help growing as tired and distracted 
 as the others. Even with the most vivid imagination 
 it was impossible to supply in thought the lacking 
 scenery, the human voices, and the varied colors of the 
 orchestra. Another half-hour passed and he caught 
 himself eagerly awaiting the moment when Fraulein 
 Ilonka's celebrated little foot should again peep forth 
 under the hem of her skirt and at that moment he be-
 
 96 Florian Mayr 
 
 came aware that the baron was engaged in the same 
 interesting occupation. Fraulein Ilonka opened her 
 large fan, whispering to right of her and whispering 
 to left; some smiled, some snickered. Libussa Tomat- 
 schek threw indignant glances around ; the little hen of 
 a mamma sighed and grew more and more perturbed ; 
 the fat songstress yawned; the court-conductor was al- 
 most asleep; the handsome Tomatschek, with his del- 
 icately tapered fingers, pulled at his eyelids which made 
 a soft clicking noise ; some of the young men took refuge 
 in the next room in order to incorporate the remains of 
 the repast, and Raphael Silberstein hitched about so 
 nervously on the outer edge of his chair that everyone 
 was watching with anxious suspense to see it slip out 
 from under him. 
 
 Amid the uproar of all hell the curtain descended 
 upon the introduction to the tetralogy of Man. Satan 
 had fought his fight to a finish and everybody jumped 
 up as if redeemed. Some applauded frantically; all 
 crowded round the composer to relieve themselves of 
 a few superlatives which had just occurred to them or 
 which they had been brooding over for the last hour. 
 But all were in great haste to get home; they thanked 
 their host for the great treat, and ten minutes after 
 the end of Satan the whole company was jostling in 
 the corridor, crawling into top-coats, helping the ladies, 
 and feeling in their purses for the five-groschen bits to 
 give the maid. 
 
 It was half past eleven but when Florian Mayr 
 reached the Luisenplatz and by the light of the street 
 lamp in front of his door looked at his watch, it was 
 half past two! With Baron von Eied and Ilonka 
 Badacs and the Tomatscheks, father and daughter, to-
 
 Satan 97 
 
 gether with two of the youngest gentlemen of the party, 
 he had gone to a restaurant. The result of the whole 
 evening was that he went home with the conviction that 
 he had never met a woman so crazy as the dark-haired 
 girl nor one so amusing as Ilonka.
 
 CHAPTER YI 
 Katzen jammer 
 
 FBAU STOLTENHAGEN found herself next morning in a 
 state of no little excitement. It was already eight o'clock 
 and Herr Mayr had not yet shouted into the hall 
 for his hot water. At half past eight she had listened 
 at his door, but without hearing a sound. At nine 
 o'clock she had ventured to look through the key-hole, 
 and even to knock lightly on the door, but in both cases 
 without result And now it was half past nine, and 
 still no sign of life from behind the bolted door. Should 
 she send for the locksmith ? Herr Mayr went out every 
 day without exception between half past nine and a 
 quarter to ten. 
 
 A little before ten o'clock a good looking young lady 
 appeared and asked to see Herr Mayr. The young 
 lady was cheaply but neatly dressed, and looked exactly 
 like one with whom a young man might like very well 
 to establish relations of a certain character, the daughter 
 of plain but worthy people, who would not be likely to 
 place any difficulties in the way of a young artist. 
 Frau Stoltenhagen was dreadfully excited. Some- 
 thing had happened to her Herr Mayr at last ! 
 
 " So you want to see Herr Mayr ? " she queried twice, 
 in answer to the girl's question, surveying her from 
 head to foot; 
 
 " Hm, I don't know whether he's at home or not ; I 
 don't believe he's up yet." 
 
 98
 
 Katzergammer 99 
 
 " Oh, that don't make any difference," replied the 
 girl coolly. " Just tell him Marie from the Mark- 
 grafenstrasse is here. Then he'll know all right." 
 
 Frau Stoltenhagen opened her eyes wide and gasped 
 in agitation. " Indeed ! Marie from the Markgrafen- 
 strasse. Just look at that! I wouldn't dare to do it. 
 Besides he's locked himself in." 
 
 " Well then, just let me go in, Missis. He'll let me 
 in all right." And without waiting for an answer the 
 girl pushed by the bewildered landlady, and after being 
 shown the right door, knocked energetically. Frau 
 Stoltenhagen, her niece from Pomerania, and the serv- 
 ant girl stood behind her open-mouthed. 
 
 " Kreuzdonnerwetter ! What the devil's that ! Just 
 let me alone, will you ? " growled a hoarse and angry 
 voice from within. 
 
 " Thank God, he's still alive ! " exclaimed Frau 
 Stoltenhagen. " I really thought something had hap- 
 pened to him." bearing the door she called out with 
 soothing amiability, " Don't disturb yourself, Herr 
 Mayr, it's only the Fraulein Marie from the Mark- 
 grafenstrasse." 
 
 " Fraulein Marie may go to somewhere else. 
 This is no place to talk to me," growled the voice from 
 within again. 
 
 But the girl was not to be put off, and without taking 
 offense she called out : " Herr Mayr, it's me ! I've 
 got a letter from Fraulein and I'm to wait for an 
 answer." And, turning to the inquisitive females be- 
 hind her, she added with a smile, " It's only about the 
 piano lessons." 
 
 The voice from within : " What does she want any- 
 how ? What Fraulein ? "
 
 100 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Why Fraulein Thekla, sir." 
 
 " Thekla? Oh, just wait a bit; I'll be there in a 
 minute." The bed creaked within, and the three spec- 
 tators of the household of Stoltenhagen made off as fast 
 as their legs could carry them, the niece from Pom- 
 erania whispering in feverish excitement to her aunt 
 as she gave the latter a dig in the side, " Did you hear 
 that, Aunty ? Her name is Thekla ! " 
 
 A moment later the door was opened slightly, and 
 Florian Mayr thrust his paw through the crack and 
 took possession of the letter. Going to the window, he 
 pulled up the shade and endeavored to decipher the 
 epistle. But his vision was not yet quite in order, 
 and his legs were very cold, and his head oh, his 
 head ! He doused it into ice-cold water and sneezed 
 and snorted. Then he slipped on a few of the most 
 necessary articles of clothing, called Marie from the 
 Markgrafenstrasse into the room, and begged her to 
 be seated. He thought he noticed that the girl looked 
 at him strangely, and, glancing into the mirror as he 
 passed it, he came to the conclusion that she was right ! 
 In the belief that he owed her some kind of explana- 
 tion, he remarked, 
 
 " Well, Fraulein Thekla must have something very 
 important to communicate if she has to wake me out 
 of my morning's nap." 
 
 " Why, it's ten o'clock already, Herr Mayr," laughed 
 Marie. 
 
 " What's that ? " he cried incredulously, running 
 for his watch, which lay on the night-stand. " Well, 
 upon my word, half past four! I must have for- 
 gotten to wind my watch. You see, Marie, that's 
 because my stomach is a little out of order ow ! It' a
 
 Katzen jammer 101 
 
 pretty bad still ! " And turning away, he slouched, a 
 bit ashamed of himself, to a chair near the window 
 and proceeded to read the pale-blue note from Fraulein 
 Thekla. It ran as follows: 
 
 " Oh, my dear Herr Mayr, I am quite desperate and you 
 must help me somehow. Just think, that horrible man 
 (I haven't got his card here and cannot write his name 
 without it) called on Ma mm a again this afternoon and 
 told her that he had met us together in the street. He 
 said you were a very dangerous person, that is what he 
 said, and were notorious for trying to make up to the 
 young ladies whom you gave lessons to. Mamma said to 
 me ' since you have rendezvous with your piano teacher, I 
 shall not let you out in future/ And how do you think 
 he excused himself to Mamma for not wanting to give me 
 lessons any longer, when of course it was only because he 
 was afraid of the thrashing you promised him? He said 
 I made such an impression on his heart the very first time 
 he saw me, that he did not feel it consistent with his 
 honor and his conscience to ask of me a confidence and 
 trust that a teacher ought to demand! Others might not 
 feel so about matters of conscience, but he, as a member of 
 the oldest Polish nobility, was sure he was right in such 
 a case. Mamma was quite carried away by so much deli- 
 cacy, and set him up as a model for me, so that I could 
 see the difference between such a man and you ! Wasn't 
 that horrid? You really must help me, dear, good Herr 
 Mayr. What shall I do? I don't believe a thrashing 
 would do any good, he's such a common sort of person ! I 
 rely on you entirely, and please send me an answer by 
 Marie, because I can't get out any more to get your let- 
 ters from the post-office. Please, please, do not abandon, 
 Your unhappy, 
 
 THEKLA BUEMESTEE. 
 
 P. S. Marie knows everything."
 
 102 Florian Mayr 
 
 Florian let his hand with the note in it drop languidly 
 at his side, rested his left elbow on his knee, and buried 
 his face with a groan in his mighty hand. For a long 
 while he kept silence, rubbed his dishevelled head with 
 his long fingers, and emitted from time to time a deep 
 sigh. At last the good Marie became impatient and in- 
 quired whether Herr Mayr would not give her a few 
 lines in answer to Fraulein Thekla's note. 
 
 " Write ! Kow ? Oh ow ! I never write be- 
 fore breakfast." 
 
 " Well, shall I take her any message ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, please, I wish you would," replied Florian. 
 Rising with an effort, he planted himself before Marie 
 with his legs spread apart, and, looking down upon the 
 girl with a painful expression, he appeared to await 
 some further stimulation of his thinking powers from 
 her. 
 
 Marie smiled intelligently. " You don't seem to be 
 quite well, Herr Mayr." 
 
 He grinned with forlorn humor. " Oh, I don't know, 
 I am quite well bodily, but you know this mental ex- 
 citement poor Fraulein Thekla! A thing like that 
 always gets on my nerves right away. What would you 
 do in such a case, Fraulein Marie ? " 
 
 " Well, they do say as a herring is very good for it" 
 
 " Oh, I don't speak of myself ; you're not making fun 
 of me, Marie, are you? I mean Fraulein Thekla, 
 what shall I prescribe for her? I don't understand 
 very well how to treat young ladies in such cases." 
 
 Marie grinned knowingly. " Well, Herr Mayr, if I 
 might be so bold as to say it, I should think the matter 
 was quite simple. Poor Fraulein Thekla is just eating 
 her heart out because she can't take lessons of you
 
 Katzen jammer 103 
 
 any more nor have anything more to do with you, and 
 now she's afraid she'll have to marry that Polish gentle- 
 man with the lovelocks and the calf's eyes, and she just 
 simply can't abide him." 
 
 " I'd like to whale the devil out of that fellow 1 " 
 snarled Florian. 
 
 " Oh, don't you try that on, sir; that'll cost you 
 money." 
 
 " How do you mean ? " 
 
 " Lord, Herr Mayr, you must have noticed that our 
 Fraulein is dead gone on you! Well then, what's to 
 hinder ? Why don't you marry her yourself ? " 
 
 Florian opened his eyes wide and pointed with his 
 gigantic fore-finger to his Herculean breast. " Me ? " 
 
 " Well, and why not ? " continued Marie confiden- 
 tially. " The Herr Consul and our mistress, of course, 
 wouldn't hear of it for a moment, but that's most 
 usually the case, ain't it? You're a musician and 
 the old lady was always dead gone on musicians. 
 Well, and you know the proverb, ' With patience and 
 spit you can catch a nit ! ' Just be up and doin' ! 
 When two young people mean to have each other the 
 old folks have to give in sooner or later ; and it wouldn't 
 be the first time that a fine Fraulein ran away with a 
 piano teacher, would it now? And after all Fraulein 
 Thekla isn't so great anyway! I suppose you know 
 that she ain't the Burm esters' real child, don't you ? 
 What ? You don't know that ? Why of course, only 
 adopted, that's all. Her people were quite plain. But 
 even if she shouldn't happen to get all the old folks' 
 money, the consul is a very kind gentleman after all, 
 and he ain't goin' to let her starve, I can tell you." 
 
 Marie had worked herself into a very fever of en-
 
 104 Florian Mayr 
 
 thusiasm. As she talked she rose and followed the 
 slowly retreating Florian across the room as far as the 
 sofa, upon which he sank down with a sigh. He rested 
 his head on his hands and was quite incapable of tak- 
 ing in the meaning of her eloquence. When she finally 
 came to an end, he gave his knee a slap, and the table 
 a sounding whack with his fist. 
 
 " For the Lord's sake stop that cataract of crazy 
 gabble! " he shouted. " Did Fraulein Thekla tell you 
 to bring me any such message as that, hey? Well 
 then, just keep that nonsense to yourself." 
 
 " Well you needn't get so huffy about it ! " cried the 
 girl quite offended. " That's what I get for interest- 
 ing myself in you. I suppose I can just go home now 
 and tell Fraulein Thekla what an amiable gentleman 
 you are! Lyin' abed at ten in the morning with such 
 a nasty head on you ! My word ! I don't see how fine 
 young ladies can find anything interesting in people 
 like that Well, good-by, Herr Mayr! You'd better 
 crawl back into bed. I won't trouble you any 
 longer." 
 
 " My Lord, these women ! Don't get your back up 
 so easy. Just consider my suffering condition." 
 
 He tried to catch her by the skirt, but she eluded his 
 grasp and retreated to the door. 
 
 " Hgh ! Fraulein Thekla's in a suffering condition 
 too. It's enough to break your heart to see her wor- 
 ryin' herself to death, and you won't even write her a 
 couple of lines ! Well, what'll I tell her ? " 
 
 Florian got up from the lounge groaning, dragged 
 himself to where Marie stood and said weakly, 
 
 " Look here, my dear Marie, I wish you'd do me a 
 great favor. I'll hold my face over the washbowl, and
 
 Katzen jammer 105 
 
 you take the pitcher and pour the water over my head. 
 Maybe that will clear my brains a little." 
 
 Marie had to laugh. " My word, Herr Mayr, you do 
 ask a lot o' funny things of a body ! Well, come here 
 then. It won't hurt your head to get a good dressing 
 down anyway ! " And, laying aside umbrella and muff, 
 she seized the heavy water-can and poured the entire 
 contents over his throbbing head, as he had desired. 
 He had let his long hair fall down over his eyes, and the 
 wet locks fairly streamed as he rubbed his face with a 
 towel. He stood there bent over with his legs apart 
 dripping like a damaged gutter after a shower, when 
 suddenly there came a sharp knock at the door, and, 
 without waiting for an invitation to enter, a tall ma- 
 jestic form, attired in a long gray havelock and a 
 broad brimmed hat of brown plush, stalked solemnly 
 across the threshold. 
 
 Florian was so astonished to see this individual in 
 his room that he abruptly interrupted the process of 
 drying himself, and even forgot to say good-morning. 
 But as he felt the sting of the cold water trickling 
 down his back, he suddenly came to himself and cried, 
 as he resumed the shampooing of his streaming locks, 
 
 " Ah, how do you do, Herr Tomatschek ! Up so 
 early ? To what pray do I owe the honor ? " 
 
 The visitor was indeed no other than Toby Tomat- 
 schek, the "violin-king," and even in the gray light 
 of this winter morning he was still the handsome man. 
 The prolonged session of the night before could be 
 traced upon his patrician features only in the form of 
 an interesting pallor. Slowly he took off his hat, shook 
 back his flowing locks, and unbuttoning his havelock 
 threw it open, so as to show to advantage the black
 
 106 Florian Mayr 
 
 velvet jacket beneath. Then he knit his brows and 
 still without a word of salutation favored Fraulein 
 Marie from the Markgrafenstrasse with a critical ex- 
 amination. At last he opened the conversation with 
 the singular question, 
 
 " Is this young lady a member of the family ? " 
 Then, as the bewildered Florian answered only by a 
 stare, he continued elucidatingly, 
 
 " I mean is the young lady a near relative of yours, 
 since I find her here in this, hm somewhat intimate 
 situation * ? " 
 
 "Hey? What's that you say?" exclaimed the in- 
 dignant Marie. "What are you givin' me? I'm a 
 respectable girl, do you understand that ? That's what 
 I get for my good nature ! And you stand there, Herr 
 Mayr, and don't say a blessed word, and let me be in- 
 sulted right here in your own house! Oh, well, that's 
 all right! I can go home and tell Fraulein Thekla 
 what kind of a gentleman you are, and what goin's-on 
 you have here ! And all your serious intentions won't 
 do you any good after this, I can tell you. Good day, 
 Herr Mayr ! Any other message you want to send ? " 
 
 " I say, get out of here, will you ? " shouted Herr 
 Mayr in a rage. " And you tell your Fraulein that I 
 am very sorry she keeps a monkey for a maid. So! 
 Now we two have done with each other ! " 
 
 " What did you say ? Monkey, did you say ? " 
 screamed the girl in the open door. " You will find it 
 hard enough to speak with our Fraulein again; you'd 
 better give up all hopes of that ! That's over with ! " 
 She shook her umbrella at Florian threateningly, and 
 then, as he made a motion to accelerate her exit, she 
 hurried out and slammed the door behind her.
 
 Katzen jammer 107 
 
 Florian staggered to the lounge, giving expression 
 as he went to a general but forcible condemnation of 
 the whole weaker sex. He took the wet towel and 
 wound it round his head like a turban. Then he lay 
 upon the lounge staring ruefully before him. 
 
 Toby Tomatschek advanced slowly, leaned one hand 
 on the table in front of the sofa and said in solemn tones, 
 
 " You appear to be a very dangerous kind of Don 
 Juan." 
 
 "Who, me?" said Florian languidly. "Well I'll 
 tell you what, my dear Herr Tomatschek, if you feel 
 so well after the affair of last night, I congratulate 
 you sincerely ; for my part, I am not at all in the mood 
 for bad jokes." 
 
 " Neither am I," replied the handsome man with 
 ominous severity. " I have come here to-day, sir, to 
 ask you whether you intend to marry my daughter." 
 
 " Wha-a-a-t ? By no manner of means ! Nothing 
 is further from my mind, my -dear Herr Tomatschek ! " 
 groaned Florian, writhing about on the sofa with an ex- 
 pression of misery. " Oh Lord, my head ! Where 
 did you get hold of that idea ? " 
 
 Toby Tomatschek's noble forehead flushed, but be- 
 fore he had time to give tongue to his indignation, the 
 door was thrown open and upon the threshold, muff in 
 one hand and umbrella held threateningly on high in 
 the other, stood Fraulein Marie from the Markgrafen- 
 strasse, behind whom in the hall the group of Stolten- 
 hagen ladies and the servant girl were visible. 
 
 " There's just one thing more I want to tell you, Herr 
 Mayr ! " yelled the indignant maid in tones rather less 
 melodious than vehement, at the suffering Florian ; " I 
 ain't used to such treatment, and I won't stand it, and
 
 108 Florian Mayr 
 
 I'm going to tell my mistress that you're trying to run 
 away with Fraulein Thekla! We've got that in your 
 own handwriting. So, Herr Mayr, now good-by! I 
 don't want anything more to do with such a gentleman 
 as you are ! " Bang ! flew the door to a short ex- 
 cited exchange of words without, and then bang! went 
 the outside door. 
 
 After that all was silence, but only for a few seconds. 
 Then Toby Tomatschek, seizing the chair in front of 
 him, raised it a few inches and smashed it down upon 
 the floor so hard that one of its rickety legs broke off 
 short. And this he did merely to give expression to his 
 bold assertion that Florian Mayr was a very dangerous 
 Don Juan. 
 
 But Florian plucked the turban from his head and 
 gripped his wet, dishevelled hair with his ten fingers as 
 if he would pull it out, 
 
 " That's nothing more or less than an infamous lie ! " 
 he cried in despair. " Do I look like a Don Juan ? 
 Great heavens and earth, am I crazy or are you ? Just 
 tell me that ! " 
 
 " Sir, have you no conscience at all ? " thundered the 
 " violin-king," as he gathered his havelock together 
 with his left hand and raised the fore-finger of his 
 right with a threatening gesture. " Or is your memory 
 as short as all that? Here is one young lady whom 
 you intend to abduct, while my daughter, sir, you're 
 trying to seduce. You do not seem to be aware with 
 whom you have to do, Herr Mayr. I, whom you see 
 standing before you now, I have played before all the 
 crowned heads of Europe. This scarf-pin was given 
 to me by the Empress Eugenie. No one shall make up 
 to my child with impunity, sir ! "
 
 Katzerg'ammer 109 
 
 " Who in the devil wants to make up to her ? " queried 
 Florian with a sigh. 
 
 " You ! " shouted the " violin-king " with a crushing 
 look. "You have not even forborne to communicate 
 your wicked intentions to my child herself." 
 
 At this a smile flitted across Florian's worried 
 features. He leaned over the table and gave a tug at 
 the handsome Tomatschek's havelock. " Look here, 
 that's a pretty good joke. That wasn't me at all, that 
 was the baron ! " 
 
 " The baron ! hm, are you quite sure of that ? " 
 Herr Tomatschek became suddenly reflective. 
 
 11 1 am, of course I am ; I heard Fraulein Badacs as 
 she " Here Florian stopped suddenly, the thought 
 occurring to him that he should be careful about get- 
 ting ladies into trouble. With a view to changing the 
 subject he called the outraged father's attention to the 
 fact that he had not yet breakfasted and felt a keen ap- 
 petite for a cup of coffee. Herr Tomatschek nodded in 
 an absent-minded kind of way and sat down on the 
 nearest chair, where he buried himself in thought, while 
 Florian called for the hot water and made preparations 
 for breakfast. 
 
 Herr Tomatschek crossed his legs and leaned his 
 Apollo-like chin in his hands. " It did seem to me," 
 he remarked musingly, " as if my daughter made a cer- 
 tain impression on the baron." 
 
 " I should think so, a very decided one," rejoined 
 Herr Mayr quietly. 
 
 " Hm ! And you can swear he used the expression 
 * make up > to her ? " 
 
 " Heaven forbid ! Where did you get that story 
 about making up to her, anyhow ? "
 
 110 Florian Mayr 
 
 " My daughter told me last night as we were going 
 home that you said to her in so many words : ' just do 
 me the favor to make the acquaintance of one real man 
 before you talk such nonsense about men in general. 
 How would you like the experience of being led astray 
 by a jolly good fellow ? ' Yes indeed, Herr Mayr, that's 
 what you said to her ! And when my daughter naturally 
 answered in the negative, you replied that that was 
 greatly to be regretted ! Do you hear ? Greatly to be 
 regretted! " 
 
 ^My dear Herr Tomatschek," said Florian, "can 
 you remember so exactly what was said last night ? I 
 can't, particularly anything that happened after two 
 o'clock in the morning. But I'm very sure I didn't 
 say that, and if I did I didn't mean it. And then it 
 wouldn't be at all impossible that your daughter mixed 
 me up with the baron. We don't look alike, that's 
 true, but Lord bless me, after so many bottles " 
 
 " You don't mean to assert that my daughter was in- 
 toxicated ! " exclaimed Herr Tomatschek, giving his 
 handsome head a toss. 
 
 " Well, if not, all I've got to say is that I have a 
 tremendous respect for your daughter's head ! In that 
 case she can stand more than I can, for I was most cer- 
 tainly tight, there's no doubt about that at all. Oh, 
 my poor head ! " 
 
 " Hm," said the " violin-king," and buried himself 
 once more in deep thought. 
 
 At that moment the niece from Pomerania entered 
 with the hot water. She looked extremely discomposed 
 and her eyes were red and swollen. Evidently she had 
 been weeping. With trembling hands she set the coffee- 
 tray on the table in front of Florian and started to beat
 
 Katzen jammer 111 
 
 a hasty retreat ; but Florian caught her by the arm and 
 said, " For Heaven's sake, how you look ! What's the 
 matter out there? Have you had a scrap with your 
 Aunty, or what? You might say good-morning at 
 least." 
 
 The girl jerked herself away sharply, burst into tears 
 and sobbed out, " Let me alone, Herr Mayr ! I'll 
 never speak to you again ! You're a bad man ! " and 
 she rushed out banging the door behind her. Quite 
 unmoved, Florian stared after her in mild surprise. 
 With a deep sigh he poured the hot water into the coffee- 
 machine, and remarked with touching resignation, 
 
 " That's right ! Now even that silly goose despises 
 me. Do you call that justice, Herr Tomatschek? I 
 assure you on my honor, I live as quietly and respect- 
 ably as an assistant revenue clerk on a pension. To-day 
 for the first time since I have lived in Berlin I happen 
 to wake up two hours later than usual with a beastly 
 head on me, and what's the result? They come run- 
 ning in one after the other, these females, with their 
 heads swollen up like Calcutta hens, for no other 
 earthly purpose than to cast their contempt in my very 
 teeth! I claim that's not justice it's an outrage, I 
 claim! And as if that were not enough, you appear 
 too, like a regular Odoardo, and call me a diabolical 
 Don Juan and demand that I marry your daughter! 
 I tell you, Herr Tomatschek, as far as I am concerned 
 all the females I know can go to the devil ! Yes, my 
 dear Herr Tomatschek and your daughter included ! - t - 
 But no offence ! I suppose you've already had break- 
 fast ? But perhaps I may offer you a drink I've got 
 some fine old liqueur here." 
 
 The lt violin-king " showed no further resentment.
 
 112 Florian Mayr 
 
 On the contrary he accepted the liqueur with thanks, 
 and Florian sat down with him and ate his simple 
 breakfast. As he proceeded, his spirits rose somewhat. 
 The love for his fellow man that was in him gradually 
 awoke, and he regarded benevolently the handsome 
 Toby, careworn and dismal, with his noble head rest- 
 ing on his left hand staring into the empty cordial- 
 
 " Will you have another ? " inquired Florian pleas- 
 antly. 
 
 Herr Tomatschek merely nodded. Even after dis- 
 posing of the second glass he still preserved silence. 
 He licked his lips, carefully wiped his black mustache, 
 took a tula cigarette-case from his pocket and lit a 
 cigarette. Then at last he found his tongue. 
 
 " Would you advise me to call on the baron ? " he 
 asked with gloomy gravity. 
 
 " What for ? " said Florian, " What do you want of 
 him? Don't want to touch him for a loan, do you? 
 I don't believe he's got more than enough for himself." 
 
 " Touch him for a loan ! " exclaimed the " violin- 
 king " indignantly. " I was not thinking of that 
 quite yet. I mean whether you think it correct for 
 me to challenge him. As you are of the opinion that 
 he insulted my daughter last night, it is certainly my 
 duty, as a man and a father, to demand satisfaction." 
 
 " Hm, yes," observed Florian, wagging his head 
 doubtfully. " It's quite possible that you might im- 
 press the baron tremendously in that way; but I can't 
 see how it would do you any good, for I don't believe 
 the baron, as the father of a numerous family, would 
 find any particular pleasure in a pistol duel." 
 
 "What! The baron is married?" exclaimed the
 
 Katzen jammer 113 
 
 handsome Toby, pulling a long face. " Do you know 
 that for certain ? " 
 
 " Fraulein Badacs told me about it last night. You 
 see he made a foolish marriage when he was young, as 
 most artists do anyhow, and he had the bad luck to get 
 hold of the stupidest and most abominable woman on 
 earth. He's joined eleven clubs already, just to have 
 an excuse for going out every night, because the bar- 
 oness makes things altogether too hot for him at home. 
 I'm sorry for the man. In my opinion he could do 
 quite different work and command a far better position 
 if he hadn't been fool enough to " 
 
 " Oh, what do I care about the baron and his fam- 
 ily affairs ! " interrupted Herr Tomatschek gruffly. 
 He rose from his chair, threw off his havelock and 
 strode several times up and down the room. Then, 
 stopping in front of Florian, he pointed at the empty 
 glass and said, " You might give me another drop of 
 your harmless liqueur." 
 
 Florian hastened to fulfill his wish. Herr Tomat- 
 schek emptied the glass as he stood, and then laid his 
 well manicured hand heavily on the shoulder of his 
 young friend. He drew a deep sigh and said, " I as- 
 sure you, Herr Mayr, it is an exalting thought to be the 
 father of a genius ! " 
 
 " Indeed, indeed ! Is Fraulein Libussa a genius ? " 
 queried Florian without any particular interest. 
 
 t{ I assure you, Herr Mayr, she is a genius ! " in- 
 sisted the "violin-king," giving Florian's shoulder a 
 vigorous squeeze. " But she is my only child, and her 
 never-to-be-forgotten mother died when she was hardly 
 ten years old. From that time the child has had to 
 share with me my wandering life. Of course, she could
 
 114 Florian Mayr 
 
 not be sent to school any longer. I became ber only 
 teacher, and reading had to do the rest. She developed 
 with extraordinary rapidity, both in body and mind. 
 She has grown to be a beauty; you will certainly ac- 
 knowledge that, Herr Mayr 3 " 
 
 "Why certainly," replied Florian. "She looks 
 like you ! " 
 
 " To be sure, that's what everybody says," continued 
 the handsome man, running his fingers through his 
 luxuriant hair with a self-satisfied smile. " You see, 
 Herr Mayr, here comes the question that I wanted to 
 ask you: what am I going to do with the girl now? 
 What is to become of the daughter of the poor min- 
 strel ? I assure you this question is the torture of my 
 sleepless nights. Can you give me answer to it, Herr 
 Mayr?" 
 
 Florian thought a moment and then said, " Well, if 
 your daughter is such a genius, what can she do ? " 
 
 "What do you mean?" 
 
 " Why, I should think she must have an inclination 
 for art or science or something ? Is she musical ? " 
 
 " Prodigiously ! But she has learned no instru- 
 ment." 
 
 " Well, hasn't she any voice ? " 
 
 " Oh, a sweet voice, an enchanting voice, but small, 
 small, very small." 
 
 " Indeed ! So there's no chance in that direction. 
 Hm, hm and hasn't she shown any other inclina- 
 tions ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes, for the ballet. But that's over now ; she 
 has risen above the ballet. She has a phenomenal talent 
 for acting, but she despises the shallow world of the
 
 Katzen jammer 115 
 
 " So, so. Well, how would it do to make an author 
 out of her ? " 
 
 " Oh, Herr Mayr, I assure you she is simply born 
 for that ! " cried Herr Tomatschek with enthusiasm. 
 " But unfortunately she is not quite sure of her orthog-. 
 raphy; and besides she is altogether too fiery and too 
 ambitious to stand the tedious, tiresome struggle of 
 authorship. But she has ideas sometimes simply 
 marvelous ! " 
 
 Here Florian lost his patience. He sprang up and 
 cried out, " Great Heavens, my dear Herr Tomatschek, 
 that's all very well, but if she doesn't know anything, 
 and can't do anything, or won't, where in the world does 
 her genius come in ? " 
 
 " Within, my dear young friend," replied Toby im- 
 pressively. " It is her great heart, you know ; her 
 whole soul is full of the loftiest thoughts and the most 
 refined sentiments. The creative artist whose muse she 
 may be fated to become is surely destined to conquer 
 the world, that's a dead certainty in my mind ! " 
 
 Florian was nearly in despair. 
 
 " If you're so sure of that, Herr Tomatschek, why 
 don't you wait until the creative artist discovers his 
 muse for himself ? " 
 
 " Ah, but that is just the tragic element in our life. 
 We do not possess the means of waiting," cried Herr 
 Tomatschek with a sigh of distress. " Oh, my God, 
 my God, will no one relieve me of this care ? My dear 
 young friend, you can surely see that I am wearing my- 
 self out. Do you not know of somebody who for a 
 while at least would adopt my child or or something 
 like that?" 
 
 Florian seized his head in both hands. " Stop, Herr
 
 116 Florian Mayr 
 
 Tomatschek, do stop, for the Lord's sake! I was feel- 
 ing quite well, and now you've set my head to aching 
 again. How can I help you, a young fellow of twenty- 
 three years, and a poor devil at that ? Go and ask the 
 baron; perhaps he knows more about such things." 
 
 The " violin-king " cast a look of majestic scorn upon 
 Florian Mayr, shook his glossy locks, and threw his long 
 havelock over his shoulders. " I have been mistaken 
 in you," he said, arching his eyebrows, " You have no 
 feeling for the cares of a father. Pardon my intru- 
 sion. Good morning." He reached for his hat and 
 strode towards the door. On the threshold he stopped, 
 thought for a moment, and turned round again. " I 
 beg your pardon, Herr Mayr; you said a moment ago 
 that the baron's marriage was a very unhappy one. 
 Do you think it possible that he might eventually care 
 to get a divorce ? " 
 
 " Well, why not ? Ask him yourself." 
 
 "Hm, yes, but I can't go and ask him such a ques- 
 tion in the bosom of his family." 
 
 " Very well then, my dear Herr Tomatschek, why 
 won't you send him a registered letter ? " cried Florian 
 completely out of patience. 
 
 The " violin-king " perceived the irony. He drew 
 himself up, clapped his plush hat upon his head, and 
 left the room with a gesture of disdain. 
 
 The good Florian Mayr had of very truth reason to 
 doubt the existence of the moral constitution of the 
 world. Good heavens, how did other young men of his 
 age behave, and especially young artists, furnished- 
 room young men, without family, without cares, without 
 duties? What happened to them when they went in 
 for a good time, wasted their father's money, and paid
 
 Katzen jammer 117 
 
 no attention whatever to any of the Ten Commandments, 
 save perhaps the fifth and the seventh ? Nothing hap- 
 pened to them. On the contrary the wilder they were, 
 the more reputation and honor they gained, and par- 
 ticularly with young ladies. 
 
 He, on the other hand, had hardly ever jumped over 
 the traces, had always been a pattern of industry and 
 dutifulness, had cost his parents not a penny for years, 
 and proceeded on his way with his eyes fixed steadfastly 
 on the ideals of his art. And what now was his re- 
 ward ? A single night passed in the company of jolly 
 and interesting companions and good wine had brought 
 upon him the contempt of a whole lot of otherwise well- 
 disposed people. And the events of this gray morn- 
 ing were only a promising prelude to an edifying con- 
 cert of nothing but misfortunes. In the course of the 
 next few weeks no less than four families dispensed 
 with his services as piano-teacher for their daughters. 
 As if by appointment the health of all these young 
 ladies suddenly became so impaired that their phy- 
 sicians forbade them to play the piano. Only one of 
 the mothers was honest to declare the real reason for 
 this step, namely, that Frau Burmester had warned 
 them against him as an ill-bred, and more than that, an 
 unscrupulous person who would not hesitate to misuse 
 a position of trust to deceive inexperienced young girls. 
 And these malicious rumors penetrated even to the 
 ears of the director of the conservatory. It was of no 
 avail that Florian explained to the director that these 
 slanders were entirely the work of the revengeful Prcze- 
 walski. The director was afraid that if Florian re- 
 mained he would lose most of his young lady pupils, 
 and besides it had been reported to him that Florian
 
 118 Florian Mayr 
 
 had struck up an intimate acquaintance with his deadly 
 enemy, Toby Tomatschek, who had once attacked his 
 institution savagely in a newspaper critique, and so 
 Florian was released from his position, as professor of 
 the advanced class, on the first of January. 
 
 It was a very lucky thing for him that he had lived 
 so economically in his years of plenty and had thus 
 laid up a tidy little sum of money. In this manner 
 he was protected from the gnawing tooth of want for 
 a considerable time, and he used his involuntary leisure 
 in perfecting his piano technique, to which he applied 
 himself with redoubled industry. He avoided society, 
 read Schopenhauer, despised women, and persuaded 
 himself more and more that he lived in the very worst 
 of worlds.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 Thrown Out 
 
 As time went on Florian began to feel very lonesome 
 and deserted, especially at the Christmas season. His 
 income was now so reduced that he had given up his 
 usual trip to Bayreuth and Christmas day he had spent 
 in the solitude of his own room. Frau Stoltenhagen 
 looked upon this strange hermit life of his since that 
 day of " gray misery " as a sign of repentance and re- 
 morse and she cherished the hope that after his recent 
 untoward experiences with ladies of the upper classes 
 he might now perhaps in the loneliness of his heart be 
 brought to look with kindlier eyes upon her niece from 
 Pomerania who stood so sorely in need of someone to 
 care for her. Indeed he had of late, oftener than here- 
 tofore, entered into conversation with his landlady and 
 her niece just for the sake of having a chance to speak 
 himself and to hear the answering sound of a human 
 voice ; but his relations with these ladies had not on that 
 account become in any respect more cordial, on the 
 contrary, the jokes and allusions which he permitted 
 himself and which in the past had always been accom- 
 panied by a friendly smile were now not infrequently 
 uttered in a harsh and spiteful tone. 
 
 In fact it was only with a few of his musical ac- 
 quaintances that he now associated at all, although this 
 kind of companionship was the least agreeable to him, 
 for they talked nothing but shop, and maliciously slan- 
 119
 
 120 Florian Mayr 
 
 dered the achievements and character of their fellow 
 strugglers. He had not even thought of looking up 
 the new acquaintances he had made on that Gais even- 
 ing. So frankly and unreservedly natural as he usually 
 was in the company of men of all sorts, he had never 
 yet been quite able to conquer a certain native shyness 
 which always prevented him in the case of new ac- 
 quaintanceships from taking the first step. Very often 
 this had been attributed to pride but it was really the 
 dread of appearing obtrusive. Baron von Hied, for 
 instance, was a man quite to his taste with whom he 
 would have been very glad to form a closer intimacy 
 but he never could get to the point of looking him up or 
 even of proposing a meeting with him at some restaurant 
 through the medium of a simple post-card. Fraulein 
 Ilonka, too, he would have been glad to see again. It 
 was really awfully stupid of him to feel any constraint 
 with her, especially as she had definitely expressed the 
 wish to become better acquainted with him from the 
 artistic side as well. Besides she had, in fact, an- 
 nounced that she should call on him. If she really did 
 care so much about it, she might have kept her promise ; 
 but of course she had not given him another thought ; 
 after all that promise was only one of those amiable 
 phrases which flow so smoothly from the lips of the care- 
 less and light-hearted. 
 
 What then was Florian Mayr's astonishment when 
 one sunny morning, a few days before the New Year, 
 the smart young Hungarian, charmingly gowned, saucy 
 and gay, walked into his room and at once began to 
 chat with him in the most unconcerned manner, as if 
 they were the oldest of friends and had only yesterday 
 arranged for this meeting. He was inexpressibly grate-
 
 Thrown Out 121 
 
 ful to her for her kindness. His heart expanded under 
 the influence of her droll chatter and he found his own 
 humor again; with ironical self -mockery he told her 
 of all the misfortunes which had befallen him since 
 that jolly evening when first they met. And then at 
 her request he played for her a number of show pieces 
 which she had on her own concert repertoire. 
 
 When he had finished she seized him by both arms, 
 gave him a good shaking, and cried out with a laugh: 
 " Why, what in the world would you have ! You are 
 a master! Are you not ashamed yourself, you stupid 
 man ? What for you want to give piano lessons and 
 be schoolmaster for fine young ladies when you could 
 be very famous artist! I am little famous myself and 
 I play like little pig compared to you, yes, yes, that 
 was all right, what you said. Oh, but my good Lord in 
 heaven, what frightfully stupid men are in this world ! " 
 Thereupon she raised herself on tiptoe and gave him 
 a quick kiss on the left cheek and a gentle slap on the 
 right. 
 
 " Thank you heartily for both," said Florian de- 
 lighted, for her approbation really did him good. " But 
 you see I have no talent for this getting-famous busi- 
 ness. It takes money to give concerts and I haven't 
 any, I haven't even enough friends to fill three rows 
 of seats with free tickets ! And who else would think 
 of going to a concert by a fellow with the name of 
 Mayr ? Oho ! In these days, why, good gracious, every 
 idiot can play the piano! I'm not even a favorite 
 pupil of Liszt! So what's to be done? It's simply 
 out of the question for me to get to the front." 
 
 "Eh bien! My dear friend," rejoined the Hun- 
 garian, drawing his hand through her arm and patting
 
 122 Florian Mayr 
 
 it affectionately, " then I have to push you to front ; all 
 you got to do is to be good and keep quiet, you stupid 
 man. Tiens, mon ami, j'ai une idee voyons: to-mor- 
 row evening is gramde soiree at the Countess Tocken- 
 burg's. Do you know the Countess Fifi Tockenburg ? " 
 
 "No, I haven't the honor but I've heard of her; 
 she's the enthusiastic Wagnerite, isn't she ? " 
 
 " Exactly. Oh, dear friend, you must get acquainted 
 with Countess Fifi ! You will like it there very much. 
 All musical world of Berlin goes there, court, biggest 
 aristocrats, all famous artists, very good music, 
 only modern music. Oh, I assure you, it's only swell 
 house in all Berlin where one can enjoy oneself. Vous 
 connaissez done le palais Tockenburg Unter den Lin- 
 den? Well, then at nine o'clock to-morrow evening, 
 et en grande tenue, habit noir, cela va sans dire." 
 
 " But my dear young lady, I haven't been invited. 
 How shall I manage to get in ? I don't suppose that 
 anybody that comes along can walk right in just be- 
 cause he has long hair and plays the piano a little." 
 
 " Oh, you can put your mind at rest, dear friend, I 
 do it all ! I write to Countess Fifi to-day a little billet 
 doux. I write only that you are great artist, Liszt 
 player par excellence, absolutely sure to get invita- 
 tion for you. So that's settled, isn't it 2 You call for 
 me at half past eight, Hotel de St. Petersbourg. What 
 you want to play ? I write it to Countess." 
 
 " Well, let us say: ' The Legend of St. Francis.' " 
 
 "All right. So good-by, dear Herr Mayr et a 
 demawi." 
 
 With the liveliest expressions of gratitude he accom- 
 panied the amiable young lady to the stairs. Frau 
 Stoltenhagen waylaid him in the hall and could not
 
 Thrown Out 123 
 
 refrain from asking who the handsome lady was with 
 the costly furs. And Florian gave vent to his excellent 
 spirits by telling her that this lady was a Roumanian 
 princess who had engaged him to make a tour around 
 the world with her accompanied only by a concert grand, 
 so that they might play duets on the way, and by a 
 mameluke as her body servant and a Moorish boy to 
 wait upon him. 
 
 The next evening punctually at half past eight Flor- 
 ian Mayr presented himself at the Hotel St. Peters- 
 bourg. Fraulein Badacs had not completed her toilette 
 but quite without ceremony she let him come in and 
 look on while her skilful hair-dresser put the finishing 
 touches to her artistic coiffure. Then she threw off 
 the dressing mantle and put on her unusually low cut 
 bodice. The good Florian was struck dumb with 
 amazement at not being put out even during this pro- 
 ceeding; apparently she had no objection to letting him 
 share with the maid who was lacing her waist at the 
 back the silent pleasure of gazing upon whatever ob- 
 jects of interest there were to see. The innocent Flor- 
 ian assumed that this was the national custom of Hun- 
 gary and he could not help thinking that it was a very 
 nice one. In conclusion he was permitted to help her 
 on with her rich fur cloak and lead her down the stairs 
 on his arm. The Tockenburg palace was, it is true, 
 only a few minutes' walk from the hotel; nevertheless 
 they took a carriage. 
 
 It was the first time in his life that Florian had en- 
 tered so aristocratic a mansion and it was the first time 
 that he had ever conducted so artistocratic a lady up a 
 thickly carpeted marble staircase. He knew prac- 
 tically nothing of Fraulein Badacs but, judging by her
 
 124 Florian Mayr 
 
 clothing and her confident bearing, he felt that she must 
 be something extraordinarily aristocratic and he es- 
 teemed it a great honor to have been chosen as her 
 cavalier for this evening. He had quite forgotten to 
 ask if she had really received an invitation for him, 
 but then she must have, otherwise she would not have 
 brought him there. 
 
 Florian was dazzled by the light of hundreds of can- 
 dles and by the magnificence of the white and gold 
 salon which was still further illuminated by numerous 
 crystal chandeliers and made even more resplendent by 
 the brilliant gay-colored company which filled not only 
 this salon but several of the adjoining apartments as 
 well. This multitude of splendid uniforms, these or- 
 ders, these rich toilettes, these old ladies in rustling 
 silk with incredibly low-neck gowns, this confusion of 
 many languages among which French predominated, 
 these imposing lackeys who moved with such amazing 
 skill from group to group over the mirror-like surface 
 of the parquetry floor, balancing the well-filled tea- 
 trays, all this was so distractingly new to Florian 
 Mayr that at first he felt downright unhappy and out 
 of place, especially as he could not long fail to notice 
 that he was apparently the only one who had ventured 
 into the salon with blackened boots and a stiff silk hat. 
 All the other gentlemen in civilian garb had opera hats 
 tucked under their arms and wore patent leather shoes. 
 Had it not been for Fraulein Badacs, Master Florian 
 would not soon have trusted himself to leave the door- 
 way, but this lady seemed to be quite at home here. 
 She simply took him by the sleeve and, looking around 
 meanwhile to right and left, steered him securely 
 through the densest swarm of guests straight to the host-
 
 Thrown Out 125 
 
 ess who was standing on the threshold of an adjoining 
 room engaged in animated conversation with a young 
 gentleman in the uniform of the hussars, who surely 
 must be a prince, for he wore the grand cross upon his 
 breast. 
 
 Fraulein Ilonka made an elaborately low bow before 
 the countess and waited until she was spoken to. The 
 Countess Tockenburg was still a youthful woman, a del- 
 icate blonde, with a fine rather small figure and a fresh 
 complexion. She half closed her eyes, with a quick 
 movement raised her long-handled lorgnon, and her 
 upper lip curled over her dazzling white teeth in a 
 thoroughly cordial smile. 
 
 "Ah, Hens, tiens c'est mais oui, je me rapelle: 
 c'est la jolie pianiste hongroise ! " Then, turning to 
 the young hussar, she exclaimed : " Permettez-moi, 
 mon prince, de vous presenter Mademoiselle de 
 de " 
 
 " Badacs Ilonka, s'il vous plait, votre Aliesse," 
 broke in the Hungarian quickly, for she saw that the 
 countess was trying in vain to recall her name. 
 
 The prince entered at once into conversation in 
 French with Fraulein Ilonka and Florian found him- 
 self reduced to making various little bows behind her 
 back in the direction of the nearsighted lady of the 
 house. It was some time before the countess, who was 
 listening absent-mindedly to what was being said around 
 her, finally noticed him. Suddenly she looked at him 
 through her lorgnon and showed her faultless teeth; 
 for the present, however, she said nothing but " Ah ! " 
 
 Florian bowed again and muttered something about 
 the honor which he felt had been conferred upon him 
 by her invitation.
 
 126 Florian Mayr 
 
 It was clear that the countess could not remember for 
 she said somewhat uncertainly : " Oh, it is very kind 
 of you to have come. You are traveling through Ber- 
 lin, are you not? You come from, pardon me, 
 whence do you come ? " 
 
 " From Bayreuth, Countess, but I have already lived 
 in Berlin three years." 
 
 " Oh, Bayreuth ! " replied the countess, casting an 
 enthusiastic look upwards. Then she raised her lorgnon 
 again and gazed hopelessly at the tall, slim youth. 
 
 " My name is Mayr," said Florian, modestly trying 
 to help her. 
 
 Thereupon, as if alarmed at this revelation, the 
 countess closed her lips and gently touched Fraulein 
 Badacs on the arm with her lorgnon. 
 
 The latter turned and hastened to help her friend 
 out of his predicament by introducing him to the count- 
 ess as the magnificent young virtuoso whom she had 
 recommended for her musicale this evening. She pro- 
 tested furthermore that le jeune maitre was one of 
 the most distinguished Liszt players of the present day. 
 
 The face of the countess brightened again, and again 
 she vouchsafed Florian a glimpse of her white teeth. 
 " Ah, you come from Liszt ? " she cried in a tone which 
 at the same time clearly meant : " Ah, young man, 
 that is quite a different thing." 
 
 Florian put his head on one side, shrugged his shoul- 
 ders, and replied : " I am very sorry, Countess, I have 
 not yet been with Liszt but I intend to try my luck with 
 him soon." 
 
 Her upper lip closed down again, the lorgnon 
 dropped, and the countess blinked as she exclaimed: 
 " Oh, you have not yet been with Liszt ? Yes, pardon
 
 Thrown Out 127 
 
 me, that is, you have brought recommendations of the 
 Master himself from Bayreuth ? I think you said you 
 came from Bayreuth ? " 
 
 " Yes, I do, Countess," replied Florian ; " in fact, I 
 was born in Bayreuth. My father is teacher and or- 
 ganist there," 
 
 " But, with your permission, Countess," said Frau- 
 lien Ilonka, coming to his assistance, "He plays su- 
 perbly! Played for me; I was carried away! You 
 will be convinced, Countess, when he plays the ' St. 
 Francis.' " 
 
 "Ahem to-night that will scarcely hm the 
 programme is all arranged. Pardon me, my dear, I 
 see over there " 
 
 The rest of the sentence remained unintelligible. 
 With a strangely pinched and drawn expression the 
 countess looked out between the Hungarian and her 
 protege around the salon and in a moment had disap- 
 peared from sight 
 
 Fraulein Ilonka was scarcely less put out than Flor- 
 ian himself, but she would not show it. She looked at 
 him with a friendly laugh, took him by the arm, and 
 introduced him to the young prince. But what in the 
 world was he to do with Florian Mayr of Bayreuth ? 
 After establishing the proposition that piano playing 
 must indeed be very difficult since most people attempted 
 it and so few ever attained perfection, he found himself 
 for the time being unable to lavish any more intellect 
 upon Florian Mayr, so he turned once more with ani- 
 mation to the Hungarian girl with whom his points of 
 contact were obviously closer. Without impropriety 
 Florian could not venture to disturb them longer and, 
 after listening for a few minutes with a stupid smile
 
 128 Florian Mayr 
 
 on his face, he stepped quietly to one side and effaced 
 himself. 
 
 It seemed to him that he had practically been turned 
 out, for it was quite clear that the terribly aristocratic 
 lady of the house had been by no means agreeably sur- 
 prised by his presence there. She did not seem to 
 have paid any attention to Fraulein Badacs's letter and, 
 indeed, appeared to know that young lady only very 
 superficially. Under such circumstances it really did 
 require a quite unusual effrontery to bring along with- 
 out more ado a man who was still more of a stranger 
 than herself. Florian had no intention of thanking 
 this audacious young person for so singular a manifes- 
 tation of friendship. On the contrary, he was en- 
 raged at her and made up his mind to depart unnoticed 
 before his strength of character should be subjected to 
 too hard a test by a well-provided buffet. The musical 
 delights he found it easier to renounce. 
 
 He had almost reached the door when in the midst 
 of a small group of old ladies he caught sight of his 
 friend Prczewalski and among the ladies was one whose 
 grown-up daughter had, until recently, been one of his 
 pupils. There now the handsome Antonine has dis- 
 covered him also. All the ladies glanced towards him 
 and then put their heads together and whispered and 
 listened eagerly to something, obviously very interest- 
 ing, which the composer had to tell them. 
 
 " That's the way, you scoundrel, now you're ripping 
 me up the back ! " growled Florian half aloud. This 
 determined him to stay a while longer lest it should 
 appear that he had run away on account of that black- 
 guard. 
 
 A few minutes later a lackey mounted the low plat-
 
 Thrown Out 129 
 
 form in the middle of the long side-wall of the large 
 salon and raised the lid of the piano. That was the 
 signal for the music to begin. The whole of the large 
 assemblage flocked round the platform; the ladies and 
 elderly gentlemen took seats on the rows of chairs that 
 had been placed there; the younger gentlemen stood at 
 the sides and back. A young pianist whom Florian 
 did not know performed a fantasie from the Meister- 
 singer, apparently an improvisation, and then the royal 
 chamber-singer Betz, an old gentleman with a very bald 
 head and gold spectacles over his extremely nearsighted 
 eyes, stepped upon the platform, opened the ponderous 
 piano-score on the music-stand and sang the monologue 
 of Hans Sachs, " Wahn, Wahn, iiberall Wahn." 
 
 Dramatic music rendered in evening clothes and a 
 white cravat had never inspired Florian with much en- 
 thusiasm. He, therefore, turned his attention more to 
 the company than to the performance. He had suc- 
 ceeded at the beginning of the concert in securing a place 
 to stand pretty well forward so that he had a good view 
 of those present. He slowly let his glance sweep along 
 the rows of chairs. Among the guests he discovered 
 the wellknown characteristic heads of some distin- 
 guished diplomats, ministers, professors, and artists, 
 besides a number of faces that seemed familiar although 
 he was unable to give them names. There were the 
 typical Prussian assessors and lieutenants among the 
 younger men and the masks of court officials and bureau- 
 crats among the older. Among the ladies he saw a good 
 deal of flesh but little beauty. With the exception, how- 
 ever, of the old lady whom he had just seen in the com- 
 pany of his Polish friend, he saw no one he knew. But 
 stop. Here, on this side, only a few rows from the place
 
 130 Florian Mayr 
 
 where he was standing, was that not the fat little Consul 
 Burmester? Yes, verily! And at his side the lady 
 in lemon-colored silk with the bouquet of poppies at 
 the shoulder, that must be his spouse. He would not 
 have known her, had she not been seated next to the 
 consul. How could a man who heretofore had always 
 seen the lady only when " not yet dressed," that is, in 
 morning gowns which completely enveloped her in their 
 ample folds, recognize this dangerous yellow-covered 
 structure of bones as the same person ? But where was 
 Thekla ? Perhaps she had taken a corner seat where 
 he could not see her behind the rows of standing gen- 
 tlemen. He drew back gradually with great caution. 
 He hoped the consul's wife had not seen him and so he 
 tried to get around behind her. He succeeded and there, 
 just as he had thought, in the corner seat beside her 
 little papa sat Thekla Burmester, clad in a simple white 
 muslin gown with a red sash about her waist. The 
 costume seemed a bit too childlike, but it became her 
 charmingly; the dark blond hair hung from her curly 
 head in two full braids which even on this occasion and 
 in spite of the grand toilette she still wore down her 
 back like a schoolgirl. Her mother doubtless intended 
 that she should look as young as possible. She cer- 
 tainly had made a mistake in her choice of a child to 
 adopt, for that this young girl with the beautiful arms, 
 the fair neck, and the tender fullness of the bosom could 
 scarcely be the child of such a mother must strike 
 everyone who saw them side by side. Nor was there 
 in Thekla's countenance the slightest trace of the con- 
 sul either. Without doubt she was one of the prettiest, 
 if not the prettiest, girls in the room. Florian's heart
 
 Thrown Out 131 
 
 beat faster. He was proud of his Thekla. Now he 
 had to stay. He must find an opportunity to lure her 
 away from her parents in order at once to set her good 
 stupid little head to rights again in case that confounded 
 Marie had caused any confusion there by her chatter. 
 Florian no longer knew on what terms he stood with 
 Thekla for of course he had not been able to write to 
 her again. 
 
 Thekla troubled herself about the music as little as 
 he did. She seemed this evening to be making her 
 first excursion also into the great world for her eyes 
 wandered hither and thither with the same eagerness 
 of the novice that he had displayed. Florian refrained 
 from any attempt to attract her attention for fear her 
 parents might catch sight of him too, but he remained 
 standing close behind her so that she should not escape 
 him in the general break-up. Never had music bored 
 him so much as it did to-night notwithstanding that 
 everything done possessed genuine artistic merit. The 
 programme indicated the taste of the audience to which 
 it was presented: Wagner, Liszt, Tschaikowski, Cha- 
 brier, rendered by excellent artists, and at intervals 
 some amateurs of the high aristocracy condescended to 
 render a few songs in the lighter taste of the French 
 salon and even productions of their own, which stood in 
 very noticeable contrast to the lofty style of the other 
 compositions. It was precisely these lighter productions, 
 however, that received the stormiest applause. At the 
 close of the first part of the entertainment, a Silesian 
 count with a voice that really was magnificent sang 
 some songs which another Silesian count had composed. 
 The applause was so great that he found himself obliged
 
 132 Florian Mayr 
 
 to respond with an encore. He chose Schumann's " Ich 
 grolle nicht " with the high C and then in the sibilant 
 manner of the Silesians 
 
 " Isch grolle nischt 
 Und wenn das Herz auch brischt" 
 
 sang the handsome highborn gentleman. And, grow- 
 ing ever bolder, he struggled on ; his face became redder 
 and redder ; and now hurrah ! up with a bold 
 swing: 
 
 " Isch sah die Schlang*, 
 Die dir am Hawarzen fri-wisst, 
 Isch sah, mein Lieb, wie sahr du ahh-lend bischt 
 Isch grolle nischt." 
 
 Frenzied applause! The company forgot com- 
 pletely that they were there gathered together under 
 the banner of the music of the future and hence had no 
 right to wax especially enthusiastic over such exhibitions 
 of strength, and in an assemblage, too, in which 
 every vociferous expression of enthusiasm was held to 
 be rather bad form. But what is to be done ? A high 
 C works upon the nerves like any other monstrosity. 
 All sprang electrified from their seats and the count's 
 more intimate acquaintances swarmed up to the plat- 
 form to congratulate him upon his phenomenal achieve- 
 ment To be sure, these very same " intimates " had 
 often heard him sing " Isch grolle nischt " with the 
 high C before, but it nevertheless continued to be a 
 cause for wonder that once again nothing had burst, 
 a thing of that sort deserved recognition. Antonine 
 Prczewalski, who had played the count's accompani-
 
 Thrown Out 133 
 
 ment, was fairly crowded off the platform by the irre- 
 sistible rush of the congratulators. 
 
 Florian took advantage of the general confusion, 
 while the consul and his wife were deeply engrossed 
 in conversation with some people in front of them, to 
 tug very gently at one of Fraulein Thekla's long braids. 
 She turned quickly and gave a soft little squeak of 
 fright. 
 
 " Come quickly. I must speak to you," whispered 
 Florian hurriedly; then he disappeared behind a knot 
 of gentlemen in order that the Burmesters might not 
 catch sight of him in passing. 
 
 The whole company now betook itself into the ad- 
 joining supper room, led by his excellency, Count Tock- 
 enburg, who had the aged Princess Hatzfeld on his 
 arm, and there on two long tables were displayed all 
 kinds of delicious tidbits. Florian followed close be- 
 hind the Burmesters in the slowly moving stream of 
 guests until they reached the entrance of the supper 
 room. There he ventured once more to touch Thekla 
 on the arm and as she turned he deftly caught her hand 
 and held it tight. Fortune favored him. The parents 
 went on without noticing that Thekla remained behind. 
 He drew her aside out of the stream of human beings to 
 a place behind one of the columns which flanked the 
 doorway. 
 
 " Let me go, Herr Mayr, please," whispered Thekla 
 in alarm. " I'm not allowed to speak to you." 
 
 " Mamma has forbidden it, I suppose," replied Flor- 
 ian with an ironical smile. " Well, that's all the same 
 to me. I must speak to you. I must know what that 
 stupid girl, Marie, told you about me and whether you 
 believed it. Tell me, Fraulein Thekla, you didn't be-
 
 134 Florian Mayr 
 
 lieve it, did you? I was so miserable that morning 
 and I couldn't get my thoughts together. If it hadn't 
 been for that, honestly I'd have written you a little 
 something to comfort you but that fool girl rushed off in 
 a regular rage just because she had made me mad with 
 her silly chatter and I called her a monkey. You 
 know, Fraulein Thekla, don't you, from your own ex- 
 perience, how easy it is for me to lay about me with 
 ' geese ' and ' monkeys ' when I'm annoyed ? But that 
 doesn't prove that I'm really a bad man, now does it 2 " 
 
 Thekla's drawn and anxious face brightened per- 
 ceptibly. She raised her eyes to his quite trustingly 
 and said : " Oh, Herr Mayr, you're not really a bad 
 man then after all, are you ? I was sure of it." 
 
 " There that's right, that's sensible," cried Florian 
 delighted. " Now, let's make up and be friends again." 
 And as he spoke he put out his right hand appealingly. 
 
 Thekla did not dare to take the proffered hand be- 
 cause all the people could see them, so Florian proposed 
 that they should take refuge in the room at the other 
 side of the salon; he would get something to eat for 
 both of them, then they could be comfortable, and she 
 must tell him in minute detail everything that had 
 happened to her since their last meeting. Without 
 waiting for an answer, he left her standing there, went 
 into the supper room, and pushed his way through to the 
 buffet to procure for himself and his protege two 
 plates of lobster salad and a heap of small square-cut 
 sandwiches. 
 
 In his zeal he had failed to notice that he had come 
 close up to Consul Burmester who was engaged at the 
 same buffet in securing a plate for his wife, who stood 
 close behind him to guide him in the choice of viands.
 
 Thrown Out 135 
 
 The two gentlemen recognized each other just as they 
 were both about to help themselves from the same plat- 
 ter; their spoons collided and they mutually begged 
 pardon. 
 
 " Ah, Herr Mayr, you here ! " 
 
 " Yes, how do you do, Herr Consul ? Help your- 
 self, please." 
 
 " I beg of you, after you," stammered the little man 
 in embarrassment. Then he turned to his wife and 
 called her attention to Herr Mayr's presence there. 
 
 Scarcely had Frau Olga set eyes on the arch-enemy, 
 when she cried out in a comically frightened tone, so 
 loud, too, that in spite of the prevailing confusion of 
 voices those standing nearest could not help hearing: 
 "Where is Thekla? I beg of you, Willy, where is 
 Thekla?" 
 
 Florian noticed many smiling faces and a roguish 
 impulse made him turn to the consul with the most 
 amiably innocent manner in the world, saying: "Ah, 
 so you have brought your daughter with you ? Wait a 
 moment, I'll go look for her." And before the consul 
 and his spouse could reply he had glided swiftly away 
 through the crowd, bearing his forage with him. Close 
 by the folding doors stood a lackey holding a salver 
 filled with beer glasses. He secured one of these in 
 passing and, the two plates in his left hand, the beer 
 glass in the right, he skated over the smooth floor of 
 the music salon to the drawing-room opposite. 
 
 But he was not to reach his destination quite without 
 interruption. Fraulein Badacs was at that moment 
 slowly approaching the supper room accompanied by 
 the princely lieutenant of hussars and she called out to 
 Florian : " Tiens, dear friend, are you looking for
 
 136 Florian Mayr 
 
 me ? Have you brought me something nice to eat ? " 
 So saying, she seized one of the leberwurst sandwiches 
 which instantly disappeared in her large mouth. 
 
 With a quick movement Florian put the plate out of 
 her reach and said : " Hands off ! Fraulein, that's 
 not for you." 
 
 "Ah! What does Serene Highness think?" said 
 Fraulein Ilonka, turning to her companion. " A fine 
 cavalier, this Herr Mayr! Moi, je I' ai introduit id 
 et par consequence il fait la cour a une autre ! Que 
 c'est drole, n'est-ce pas? " 
 
 " Don't let that put you out, my dear madam," said 
 the prince in the harsh nasal tone of the Prussian 
 guardsman. " I shall try to afford you some slight 
 compensation for your painful loss." 
 
 Florian purposely disregarded the irony and with a 
 good-natured laugh replied: "You are very kind, 
 your Highness, no offense, my dear Fraulein, but 
 I've just met an old friend here, such a poor little puss, 
 and I really must look after her first." And he slid 
 away without permitting any further detention. 
 
 And there she Avas. Little Thekla had been obedient 
 and was awaiting him with anxiously beating heart in 
 the countess's drawing-room. Here they were quite un- 
 disturbed for it was very far from the intention of the 
 hostess that refreshments should be consumed in this 
 room. Indeed, for this purpose small tables had been 
 placed in a gallery adjoining the supper room. 
 Florian deposited his spoils upon one of the little stands 
 of Japanese lacquer, shoved it up in front of a luxurious 
 causeuse, and made Thekla sit down beside him. The 
 poor child nibbled a little at the sandwiches but Florian 
 had to eat both portions of lobster salad all by himself.
 
 Thrown Out 137 
 
 She sipped a little of the beer, too, just to please him ; 
 the remainder he drank to her health in a single swal- 
 low. And while he was feasting with excellent appetite 
 upon lobster, the girl told him the whole story of her 
 domestic troubles during the past few weeks. Her 
 mamma actually favored the Polish musician's suit, 
 especially since he claimed to belong to the oldest Polish 
 nobility, of which claim, however, he had thus far fur- 
 nished not the slightest proof. But fortunately her 
 father could not abide the man so that she felt to some 
 extent protected against his importunities. Still it was 
 quite unpleasant enough that this wishy-washy person 
 was allowed to come to the house so often. In spite 
 of her protests she had been obliged to take piano les- 
 sons of him but these did not take place regularly so 
 now she was to begin on the violin to which she still less 
 inclined. Her papa no longer had the energy to op- 
 pose her mamma's wishes; the long strife had cowed 
 him. She now felt herself completely deserted, espe- 
 cially since her maid's refusal to perform messenger's 
 service for her had cut off all opportunity of seeking 
 comfort and advice from her friend. Nevertheless, 
 although she was strictly watched, she had several times 
 succeeded in making inquiry for letters poste restante. 
 But she had never received a single line from him, she 
 had almost begun to believe the calumnies of Prczewal- 
 ski and Marie. " Oh, dear Herr Mayr, you must tell 
 me what I ought to do," concluded the poor child, fold- 
 ing her hands in her lap with an air of droll helpless- 
 
 Florian was deeply touched ; but he was still chewing 
 away on his lobster salad so that what he now said in 
 reply did not exactly indicate sentiment or emotion:
 
 138 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Hm, hm, now what can we do in a case like that ? 
 Why, bless my soul, haven't you got a nice lieutenant 
 or something of that sort around that you'd like to 
 run away with ? " 
 
 " Shame on you, Herr Mayr, how can you say such 
 a thing ! Besides you yourself were going to " 
 
 Florian looked at her in astonishment. He put down 
 his knife and fork, swallowed the last mouthful, and 
 then, taking her right hand tenderly between both of 
 his, he asked softly : " Fraulein Thekla, do you really 
 like me well enough to run away with me? With a 
 rough fellow like me, a common piano player who has 
 nothing and is nothing ? " 
 
 She made no answer but blushing deeply bowed her 
 pretty little head. 
 
 Florian stroked her warm soft hand for a while and 
 then with a deep sigh said while the tears stood in 
 his eyes : "No, no, my dear, just see here ; now I like 
 you much too well to wish to lead you into any such 
 folly. When you need a bow-wow to bite and drive 
 away people you don't like, you'll always find me ready 
 but you must not think of me in any other way. 
 Now about that Boobylauski, you needn't bother your 
 head about him. Here is a piece of paper, put that 
 away very carefully, and if the fellow don't let up 
 on his fool idea of marrying you, all you've got to do 
 is just to hand this autograph to your papa with my 
 compliments." He took out his pocketbook, removed 
 a piece of paper several times folded, and handed it 
 with impressive mien to the astonished and disillusioned 
 girl. 
 
 Thekla folded the paper still smaller and was en- 
 gaged in concealing it in her bosom when there ap-
 
 Thrown Out 139 
 
 peared at the opening of the folding doors a little group 
 of excited people; Herr and Frau Consul Bunnester, 
 Antonine Prczewalski; the three elderly ladies who 
 seemed to have especially attached themselves to him 
 this evening, and finally the lady of the house herself, 
 holding the lorgnon at her eyes and craning her beauti- 
 ful neck. Frau Olga Bunnester plunged across the 
 room to the pair while the others remained standing 
 near the door. 
 
 " Ah ! " cried the enraged mother quite out of breath : 
 " So, it is really true! Thekla, Thekla, how is it pos- 
 sible! You withdrew from the company with 
 with this gentleman, Oh ! " And she stretched forth 
 her hand imperiously towards her daughter who had 
 risen trembling. She did not honor Florian Mayr 
 with a single glance. 
 
 The consul on the other hand felt that his dignity 
 demanded that he should address an earnest word to the 
 seducer. With head erect and his prosperous abdomen 
 well thrown out, he walked over to Florian and said: 
 " May I ask for an explanation, sir ! What was your 
 purpose in luring my daughter hither ? " 
 
 The signs of indignation manifested by the assembled 
 company did not disconcert Florian Mayr in the least ; 
 on the contrary, the situation struck him as eminently 
 comical. Going up to the little Herr Bunnester, he re- 
 plied with an amiable smile : " Now don't you excite 
 yourself, Herr Consul. You're not so bad by a long 
 shot as your wife looks, ha, ha, ha! But there's one 
 thing you can depend upon when I tell you : your daugh- 
 ter is nowhere so safe as under my protection. And 
 now, finally and principally, I owed it to myself to 
 clear my character in this young lady's estimation of
 
 140 Florian Mayr 
 
 certain contemptible calumnies which that handsome 
 gentleman over there has put into circulation about 
 me." He indicated with his outstretched forefinger 
 the Polish composer, Prczewalski, who from behind the 
 protecting wall of the three elderly ladies was watching 
 the painful scene with a look of mocking triumph. 
 
 All stood speechless; only the insulted musician ut- 
 tered a half suppressed malediction as he cautiously 
 shoved his doubled-up fist out between the two oldest 
 of his elderly friends. 
 
 At this juncture the Countess Tockenburg advanced 
 towards Florian and, closing her eyes almost completely, 
 said in a tone of the utmost disdain : " I have had 
 supper served in the supper room, Herr Mayr. My 
 private salon is not intended for that purpose." 
 
 Now Florian really was embarrassed. Bowing awk- 
 wardly, he stammered : " I beg a thousand pardons, 
 Countess, I don't exactly know how I ought to be- 
 have here. When one comes into an aristocratic house 
 for the first time in his life " 
 
 " I cannot remember ever having invited you, Herr 
 Mayr," interrupted the countess with icy calmness. 
 
 There was a general " Ah ! " of astonishment and in- 
 dignation. The handsome Antonine laughed mockingly 
 and even ventured forth from behind his protectresses. 
 " That's the crowning insult ! " murmured Frau Bur- 
 mester and Thekla snuggled up to her father, looking 
 greatly troubled. 
 
 Florian turned a deep red. His throat seemed to 
 contract and it was only with an effort that he was 
 able to utter a few broken words : " Countess, I am 
 it must be a mistake Fraulein Badacs told me 
 she would certainly get an invitation for me I was
 
 Thrown Out 141 
 
 to play the ' St. Francis ' perhaps the Countess will 
 permit me to play the ' St. Francis ' now ? " 
 
 The countess raised her lorgnon to her eyes and with 
 a look that was fairly annihilating fixed her gaze upon 
 Florian's at all events well-blacked shoes, as she re- 
 plied : " To obtain a hearing at my soirees one must 
 have more influential recommendations, Fraulein 
 Badacs has been somewhat too hasty." 
 
 " Excuse me, Countess, I couldn't know that," re- 
 joined Florian in a voice that trembled slightly. 
 "Under these circumstances I of course no longer 
 wish to intrude. I have the honor, Countess." He 
 bowed and slowly moved towards the door. 
 
 The little group closed up, whispering together, and 
 followed almost at his heels. Florian had sharp ears. 
 He heard quite distinctly Prczewalski saying to his 
 three ladies : " Really that is a monstrous piece of 
 shamelessness for this Badacs to introduce her lover 
 sans foQon into so aristocratic a circle! " 
 
 Florian wheeled about on his heel and with a few 
 long strides stood close in front of the frightened An- 
 tonine who struggled to retreat, but Florian seized him 
 with a firm grip by both lapels of his coat and shook 
 him gently back and forth. " What did you say, you 
 contemptible rascal ? " he hissed softly. " For the low- 
 down lies you've told about me, you'll get your drub- 
 bing all right ; and now you'll insult a respectable lady 
 into the bargain, will you, you infamous cur, you ? " 
 
 The company was returning from the supper-room. 
 A scene so unheard of could not of course pass un- 
 noticed. Several young men rushed up to prevent vio- 
 lence and endeavored to detach the victim from Flor- 
 ian who had now lost his head. Many ladies too, among
 
 142 Florian Mayr 
 
 them Ilonka Badacs, flocked in from curiosity to observe 
 the exciting incident from a little distance. 
 
 The Countess Tockenburg was indignant. Never be- 
 fore had such a thing happened in her salons. She 
 turned to a young officer who came up most opportunely 
 and requested him to see to it that " this gentleman " 
 found his way out of her house at once. 
 
 The young lieutenant of the guards seized Florian 
 under the arm and whispered : " Come, my dear sir, 
 we can settle this matter outside." 
 
 " Ha, what ? Oh, yes, I understand. I'm coming," 
 replied Florian, as he let go of the trembling Antonine 
 with a final little shove, and obediently followed the 
 young officer. But after taking a few steps he turned 
 again and shouted over the heads of the whole com- 
 pany : " Oh, Fraulein Burmester, please be so kind 
 and give that paper which you know about to your 
 father now! The Herr Consul will perhaps be so good 
 as to read it aloud to the company." He had the satis- 
 faction of seeing the obedient Thekla hasten to do his 
 bidding. Then he yielded to the energetic pressure of 
 the guardsman and moved towards the door. 
 
 There Fraulein Ilonka overtook him, and in a state 
 of great excitement inquired what had happened. 
 
 " Nothing much," answered Florian calmly. " I told 
 that scoundrel, Prczewalski a bit of the truth because he 
 said you were my mistress and had had the face to 
 bring me here with you. The countess has just had me 
 thrown out." 
 
 "Hey! What is that? Teremtete!" cried Frau- 
 lein Badacs, her eyes flashing with anger. " Wait, my 
 dear friend, I go along with you, that is, I follow you 
 right away as soon as I have played rhapsodie. Wait
 
 Thrown Out 143 
 
 for me in restaurant Krczywaneck." And off she went. 
 
 Consul Burmester took the paper from Thekla's hand, 
 unfolded it with much curiosity, and as he read it 
 through he shook his head in amazement. His wife 
 was of course in the highest degree eager to learn its 
 contents but the consul could not be induced to give her 
 the paper. It was not until they were at home and 
 Thekla had been sent to bed that he announced to his 
 wife his firm resolution that in the future his house was 
 to be closed to Herr Antonine Prczewalski. Herr 
 Mayr was only a rude, hot-headed fellow but this noble 
 Pole he considered a contemptible person and moreover 
 a dangerous character. 
 
 At Krczywaneck's Pierian Mayr sat until midnight, 
 nursing his just wrath, alone with his Pilsener beer. 
 Fraulein Ilonka did not come. She had, indeed, ac- 
 cording to promise, left the soiree of the Countess Fifi 
 as soon as she had played her rhapsodie, but not alone, 
 for his serene highness, the young prince, accompanied 
 her and he naturally preferred the accommodations at 
 Herr Dressel's to those at Herr Krczywaneck's.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 The Examination 
 
 As was his yearly custom, the great master, Franz 
 Liszt, arrived in his summer residence, Weimar, at the 
 beginning of May, and the polyglot twitter of the motley 
 flock of birds of passage that flew about with him be- 
 tween Home and Weimar, with an occasional trip to 
 Budapest, descended this year with the usual hub- 
 bub upon the fair city of the Muses. That celebrated 
 newspaper, Deutschland, which owed its prosperous ex- 
 istence to the " fat salt-bone " advertisements of the 
 Weimar eating-houses, published, as usual on the eve 
 of Liszt's arrival, a glowing poem signed with the in- 
 itials, " A. W. G.," which the local wits interpreted as 
 " altes Weimersches Garluder " (old Weimar chat- 
 terer), but which everybody knew were those of that 
 worthy gentleman, the town organist. The next morn- 
 ing as the sun rose smiling according to programme the 
 streets of the residence showed the characteristic change 
 which the Liszt season was wont to bring with it. Pu- 
 pils, male and female, strolled about looking for rooms 
 or showing the newcomers the sights of the town. Maid- 
 ens with languishing eyes, from the Swedish white 
 blonde to the darkest Semitic brunette, displayed their 
 gigantic hats and extraordinary toilettes. Pale youths, 
 nearly all of them beardless, with uncannily long bony 
 fingers, and filled with the desire to look as much 
 like the Master as possible, gave slovenly escort to the 
 
 144
 
 The Examination 145 
 
 ladies and excited the wonder of the Philistines by their 
 numerous little eccentricities of dress, and especially 
 their ostentatious behavior. Nearly all wore gold 
 bosom-pins in the form of medallions bearing the bust 
 of Liszt. One of them, who revealed himself as a Ber- 
 lin Jew the moment he opened his mouth, wore a fez 
 with an abnormally long tassel, and pretended to be a 
 Turk. Another sweated about in a fabulously long, 
 close-fitting overcoat in order, if possible, to be taken for 
 an abbe. A third had brought back from Italy a 
 light-colored flannel suit with enormous checks, set off 
 with a sash of red silk, which threw the town lasses of 
 Weimar into no little excitement. Every two of these 
 demi-gods dragged as a rule one nymph about with them 
 by the arm. They called their comrades to the window 
 by whistling musical motifs, mostly from Wagner, and 
 carried on long conversations with them, even from the 
 other side of the street if that happened to be more 
 convenient. And at noon it was very lively indeed in 
 the pianistic gardens of the restaurants where the many 
 round tables were spread. Everybody laughed, chat- 
 tered, sang, and screamed together in a wild turmoil 
 of languages, in which, however, German, French, and 
 Eussian appeared to be the most prominent. It was 
 just as when the swallows come back with their ear- 
 splitting uproar and take possession of the old nests 
 or set to work to build new ones. 
 
 In the garden of the Hotel Chemnitius a particularly 
 large, vociferous, and motley crowd of Lisztites of both 
 sexes had gathered together at table to celebrate the 
 opening of the summer season with a May-bowl; and 
 the jollity of this symposium had become almost un- 
 controlled when a young man, tall and thin of figure,
 
 146 Florian Mayr 
 
 with a narrow, tanned face and deep-set, round little 
 eyes, his long locks crowned with a very high silk 
 hat, entered the garden and sat down at a table some 
 little distance from the hilarious guests at the round 
 table, and unnoticed by them. If anyone ever did, this 
 newcomer certainly looked like a Lisztite. But in pass- 
 ing the table where the revelers sat he nevertheless 
 made an intentionally wide detour, merely glancing at 
 them morosely out of the corners of his eyes for all the 
 world like a psalm-singing hypocrite. But even at the 
 distance at which he sat it was quite impossible not to 
 notice the sinfully mirthful company, and he kept 
 his ears open in order to hear something of their jests 
 and gossip. He had already begun to eat his thin soup 
 when he suddenly started up in his chair as though he 
 had received an electric shock. He let his spoon fall 
 into the soup so that it splashed all over the tablecloth 
 and onto his shirt-front without his even noticing it. 
 He stared over toward the other table and growled to 
 himself in a low voice, " Himmelherrgottsakrament! 
 Has the devil brought you here, too ? " 
 
 It was a woman's voice that had startled the tall 
 youth in this manner, and this voice belonged without 
 any doubt whatever to Fraulein Ilonka Badacs. Right 
 enough, there she was in the midst of the carousing crew. 
 She sat with her back toward him, on which account he 
 had not recognized her before. At her side sat the cox- 
 comb in the Italian flannels with his right arm leaned 
 across her shoulders. He was evidently whispering 
 rather racy things into her ear, for she screamed out 
 from time to time, gave the flannels a dig in the ribs 
 and called out something to the company in her broad
 
 The Examination 147 
 
 Hungarian German, which was received with roars of 
 laughter. 
 
 The lonely guest who gave expression so positively to 
 his displeasure at the behavior of Fraulein Badacs, as he 
 scrubbed the grease-spots on his shirt-front furiously 
 with his napkin, muttering unadulterated Bavarian 
 aphorisms as he did so, was of course no other than 
 Florian Mayr. He had not got on very well with the 
 Hungarian girl since the unpleasant episode at the 
 soiree of the Countess Tockenburg, and the fact that 
 she had not kept her word on that occasion, but, as she 
 frankly confessed, had preferred to take supper with the 
 princely lieutenant of hussars, that he found harder 
 to forgive than the social disgrace to which her brazen 
 introduction had subjected him. And as she found 
 no especial pleasure in being dressed down like any 
 school girl by a youthful comrade, the result was that 
 they parted in burning wrath. But that did not mean 
 that he had forgotten her. Quite the contrary! And 
 when he had calmed down a bit he had called himself 
 an arch-boor and a miserable countrified brute. What 
 could he know, the son of a Bayreuth organist, who 
 had struggled along for twenty years in narrow and 
 meager circumstances, toiling for his daily bread, 
 what could he know of the laws and customs of society ? 
 But Fraulein Ilonka Badacs was at home in that 
 world and whatever she chose to do must surely be 
 right and proper. For in his opinion Ilonka Badacs was 
 a lady of the great world, and she was the first of this 
 description to make an impression of any depth upon 
 him, because she united the nai've cordiality of the boon 
 companion with the address and ease of manner, the
 
 148 Plorian Mayr 
 
 wide knowledge of languages, and that urbane and well 
 groomed condition of body and mind which go to make 
 up the real lady. And then again it was to her that 
 he owed the courage to go to Weimar at his own risk 
 without any recommendations whatever. The hope of 
 meeting her again here was not the least important of 
 the influences which had induced him to come. He 
 would never confess to himself that he was in the slight- 
 est degree in love with her, but after all she was the only 
 woman of whom he had ever thought with longing, 
 about whose picture his thoughts grouped themselves in 
 sweetly childlike dreams. And now here she was with 
 this intoxicated company of slovenly loafers and slat- 
 terns, as he called them in his wrath. He choked down 
 his meal without enjoyment and made up his mind to 
 go away without speaking to Fraulein Badacs. 
 
 He paid his bill, clapped his silk hat upon his head 
 with a bang, and stalked by the revelers with averted 
 head. As he passed he heard whispering and giggling 
 behind him and before he had got half way to the gar- 
 den gate, Ilonka's voice cried loudly after him: 
 " Bless my soul, 'it's Florian Mayr ! Hold him, chil- 
 dren! He is very celebrated artist, very dear friend 
 of me!" 
 
 It was in vain that Pierian quickened his pace and 
 acted as if he had heard nothing ; for Ilonka ran after 
 him, caught him by his coat-tails and held him fast. 
 " Allj baratom! " she cried with a laugh. " That won't 
 do, my dear boy. One runs not away where sit lots of 
 celebrated colleagues ! " 
 
 Florian turned round, took off his hat, and made a 
 quick and rather awkward bow, which threw his long 
 hair across his face ; then he fixed his little brown eyes
 
 The Examination 149 
 
 upon her laughing countenance and whispered with de- 
 cision, " Thank you, I won't sit down with that gang ! 
 It may be fun for you, Fraulein it certainly isn't my 
 taste!" 
 
 Ilonka caught him tightly by both arms, shook him 
 and cried, " Insolent fellow, horrid ! What a stupidity 
 again ! " And she drew him to the nearest unoccupied 
 table, pushed him down upon a chair, and seated her- 
 self opposite him. Planting her elbows on the table 
 so that the wide sleeves of her thin dress showed her 
 full, white fore-arms, she leaned her good-natured, 
 mirthful face, which was still altogether too much pow- 
 dered, upon her hands and made a ridiculous grimace. 
 
 " Well, is Herr Florian still very angry about little, 
 small prince ? I swear that I do not love him, not so 
 much ! " And she blew across the palm of her out- 
 stretched hand. 
 
 Florian had to smile in spite of himself; she looked 
 really too droll. He replied in a very much milder 
 tone of voice, " I'll tell you what ; I don't care much 
 about the prince, but that crowd there Are they all 
 really pupils of Liszt ? May the Lord forbid ! " 
 
 " Oh, dear friend," said Ilonka soothingly, " What 
 difference makes it ? They are all very nice people ; 
 little stupid, little crazy, little in love all no money, 
 and always happy! I go not usually with them. I 
 live Hotel Erbprinz, eat table d'hote with the finest 
 company, creme de la creme! But to-day is the first 
 time in Weimar and the good colleagues invited me. I 
 cannot be boorish fellow ! " 
 
 " I see, yes," murmured Florian in embarrassment, 
 w r ith a not altogether intelligent expression in his face. 
 " Of course, I have no right to dictate to you, and there
 
 150 Florian Mayr 
 
 can be no question of being angry of course ; for anyhow, 
 I am of course " but he did not know how to pro- 
 ceed. 
 
 She laughed and stretched her right hand over the 
 table almost under his very nose, calling out playfully, 
 " Then apologize, kiss pretty little hand be very 
 good!" 
 
 He bent over her hand and touched it lightly with 
 his lips pursed-up comically without taking it in his, 
 blushing at the same time like a bashful boy. The 
 reconciliation was thus outwardly sealed, but neverthe- 
 less he obstinately refused to sit down with the merry- 
 makers, because before he knew whether the Master 
 would accept him as a pupil or not he was not in a 
 frame of mind to make new acquaintances. He was 
 as excited as a school boy before an examination at 
 the thought that perhaps to-day he would stand be- 
 fore the venerated Master and be asked to play some- 
 thing for him. 
 
 Fraulein Ilonka proposed that she should introduce 
 him to Liszt, but at this he nearly became rude again 
 and he reminded her of the evil results of her introduc- 
 tion to the Countess Tockenburg. At that she let the 
 obstinate fellow go. 
 
 Florian returned to his hotel, took a short nap, and 
 then brushed his black suit carefully, ironed his silk hat 
 and put on a clean collar, in order to appear worthily be- 
 fore his idol. 
 
 He inquired his way to the Hofgartnerei in the 
 Marienstrasse, and, having found it, wandered slowly 
 up and down at least a half a dozen times in front of 
 the plain yellow building, gazing up at the windows of 
 the first story like a love-sick swain. He could not mus-
 
 The Examination 151 
 
 ter up courage to go in and simply inquire whether 
 the Master was at home or not ; and so he stood there, 
 faint-hearted and hesitating, and whenever people came 
 by he took another turn up and down in order not to 
 appear like a suspicious character. At last a girl ap- 
 peared at the door, who had the appearance of a serv- 
 ant, and he plucked up courage to ask her quite bash- 
 fully whether " the Herr Abbe Dr. Franz von Liszt " 
 were at home. 
 
 The cheerful, pleasant-faced girl smiled at this cere- 
 monious bundle of titles and informed him that the 
 Master was, indeed, at home but could not be seen at 
 the moment; he would probably come out very soon to 
 look after his rose-bushes in the garden. 
 
 " Oh, Fraulein, I suppose you belong to the house, 
 don't you ? " asked Herr Mayr, his courage rising a 
 bit. 
 
 " Why yes, of course," replied the girl merrily : 
 " Why, I am Pauline." 
 
 Florian had no idea of the significance of Pauline, 
 but his face suddenly brightened, as if some genius had 
 appeared to roll away for him the bowlder that blocked 
 the entrance to the magic cave; and he inquired with a 
 tone of joyful anticipation in his voice, " Haha, Frau- 
 lein Pauline, now I'm right glad to hear that! Can 
 you tell me how I shall go to work to get a look at the 
 Master, even if it's from a distance ? " 
 
 His modest veneration touched Pauline's heart and 
 she conducted him through the house into the garden 
 and advised him to walk up and down there until the 
 Herr Doctor came out. And so he found himself alone 
 in the somewhat restricted premises of the Hofgartnerei. 
 The sun shone very fervently for this season of the year
 
 152 Morian Mayr 
 
 in this unshaded flower-garden, and Florian perspired 
 horribly in his long closely fitting coat, but really more 
 from excitement and nervousness than on account of the 
 heat. He wandered about in the narrow paths between 
 the flower-beds, mopped his face and gazed into his silk 
 hat with the air of a pious worshipper murmuring a 
 prayer before entering a church. Hundreds of times 
 he had taken counsel with himself as to what he should 
 say when he should really pluck up courage to speak to 
 the Master, but now, when the great moment was at 
 hand, he found the idea almost too audacious. Even 
 his lurking here alone in the garden, lying in wait for 
 the venerated Master, appeared to him a piece of pre- 
 sumption, and he felt very much like getting as near as 
 possible to the gate on the other side in order to make 
 his escape in case Liszt should happen to come near 
 him. While these pusillanimous thoughts were going 
 through his head, the rear door of the villa opened and 
 Franz Liszt himself appeared, accompanied only by a 
 gardener's assistant. He wore the broad-brimmed hat 
 and the long skirted black coat of the secular ecclesiastic. 
 His snow white hair fell far down over his unstarched 
 collar, and between the bottom of his rather short 
 trousers and his low shoes just a strip of black silk 
 stocking could be seen. Almost without a stoop the 
 tall, hoary figure advanced up the middle path which 
 was flanked with rows of trimmed firs. Now the 
 Master was only ten paces away from Florian, who 
 gazed upon him overwhelmed with terror and awe, as 
 upon some long-expected vision from another world. 
 He stepped aside to leave the path open for the Master 
 and forced himself backward in his excitement half way 
 through the hedge of firs. Then he grabbed his hat
 
 The Examination 153 
 
 from his head, and, as the Master came still nearer, he 
 bowed literally to the very ground. 
 
 Liszt had glanced at him sharply as soon as he de- 
 scried him. He hesitated a moment in an effort to 
 place the young man, who was evidently one of his 
 disciples; but the bow was so grotesque that he could 
 not help laughing. He stopped, raised his hat, nodded 
 pleasantly, and said, " Pchah, you do me too much honor 
 Pchah, too much honor ! Hoho ! With whom, pray, 
 have I " 
 
 " My name is Mayr ! " burst out Florian, summon- 
 ing all his courage. He would cheerfully have sacri- 
 ficed his last shirt at this moment if his name had 
 been anything but just Mayr, and as if to modify some- 
 what the bad impression, he added quickly, " Florian 
 Mayr, please M-a-y-r of Bayreuth." 
 
 The pleasant, smiling face of the old gentleman be- 
 came at once serious as he heard the word " Bayreuth." 
 He raised his bushy white brows rapidly several times, 
 pressed his lips close together, nodded as if with satis- 
 faction, and gave expression to that peculiar guttural 
 sound which may perhaps be suggested by the word 
 " pchah." 
 
 " Pchah, Bayreuth ! Bravo ! " Then he regarded 
 Florian with a little more attention and asked, point- 
 ing significantly to his long hair, " Also an artist ? " 
 
 The benevolent expression of the old man's kindly 
 eyes suddenly inspired the timid Florian with extra- 
 ordinary courage, and he replied eagerly, " Yes sir, I 
 am a pianist, but I would like to become a real artist. 
 On that account I have dared " He was unable to 
 say more ; his excitement suddenly choked the words in 
 his throat.
 
 154 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Oh, you want to study with me ? Eh bien 
 Bravo! We shall see, my young friend! Come and 
 see me to-morrow morning and play something for me. 
 Come at eight o'clock in the morning. You are from 
 Bayreuth ? Bravo ! Have you brought a recommenda- 
 tion from Wahnf ried ? " 
 
 " No sir ; I am, I have I beg your pardon, sir, I 
 haven't any recommendation at all ! " stammered 
 Florian in dismay. 
 
 Liszt shrugged his broad shoulders and shook his 
 head meditatively. But as his eye caught sight of the 
 anxious look of the young man he smiled at him en- 
 couragingly and said, " Pchah, what's the odds ? Pro- 
 tection is for the weak. Recommend yourself, my 
 young friend! Well then, to-morrow morning at eight 
 o'clock ! Au revoir ! " He lifted his hat politely, and 
 then turned into the next side path with the gardener's 
 man. Florian extricated himself from the thicket of 
 firs and rushed off half crazy with excitement and de- 
 light For two hours he raced about the beautiful park 
 almost at a run, but without an eye for the picturesque 
 charms of the place. He felt that he was a Hans-in- 
 Luck without compare, a shameless child of fortune, for 
 he had realized so soon and so easily the great longing 
 of his life. In his burst of joyful intoxication 
 Florian did not stop to think that the mere invitation 
 to play to Liszt by no means meant his acceptance as a 
 pupil of the Master. The dread of the examination 
 did not come to him until he lay in bed that night, but 
 then he felt it with an intensity that was frightful. 
 How easily it might happen that in his excitement he 
 might play miserably, and then it would be no wonder 
 if the Master in righteous wrath at his unworthy au-
 
 The Examination 155 
 
 dacity should show him the door once for all! He 
 would never be able to recover from a disgrace like 
 that as long as he lived. It was in vain that he tried 
 with all his mind to give his thoughts another direc- 
 tion. In vain he counted a hundred and even said the 
 Lord's prayer a dozen times one after the other, the 
 horrible nightmare was there and would not be 
 frightened away. He was not going to play any 
 dangerous pieces ; he would play the " Appassionata," 
 with which he had made a sensation when he was only 
 a little boy of fifteen, and, as the phrase goes, he could 
 play it in his sleep. He went through the whole sonata 
 in thought, tapping the bedclothes with his fingers. 
 No, it was quite impossible that he should suffer ship- 
 wreck with the " Appassionata." He nevertheless did 
 not succeed in quieting his fears. Bathed in perspira- 
 tion, he thrashed about in bed, and it was after mid- 
 night before he was able to get a little sleep. But he 
 was awake the next morning before six o'clock, and 
 now his tortures began in real earnest. Sleep was no 
 more to be thought of. No breakfast could be had in 
 the hotel so early, and so he got up and walked about 
 for an hour, only to return more miserable than 
 ever, with pains in all his limbs and even fits of nausea. 
 He drank a cordial with his coffee but even that did not 
 do him any good. His stomach was completely out of 
 order and he was in the same miserable state as the 
 widow Stoltenhagen after she had partaken of his 
 " health-coffee." Under such sorrowful circumstances 
 the eighth hour of this momentous day came to a close, 
 and in spite of all Florian stood punctually at the stroke 
 of eight before the Hofgartnerei. But he was afraid 
 to enter the house. He was convinced that in his
 
 156 Florian Mayr 
 
 wretched condition he would play abominably, and he 
 meditated whether it would not be better to take refuge 
 in flight, never set foot in Weimar again, and content 
 himself with the modest existence of the better sort of 
 piano teacher for the upper classes. At that minute 
 the letter-carrier rang at the villa, and the next moment 
 the friendly Pauline opened the door and took the mail 
 from him. As she did so she espied the quaking 
 Florian and beckoned to him eagerly, calling out, 
 " You're the Herr Mayr with a-y-r, ain't you ? Hurry 
 up and come in! The Herr Doctor is waiting for 
 you!" 
 
 Like a criminal caught in the act, Florian slunk into 
 the house and it would not have astonished him at all 
 if the good Pauline had given him a sound whack on 
 the back as he went by. Laboriously and with trembling 
 knees he climbed the stairs. He was wretched and had 
 a bad conscience to boot, like a thief who steals for the 
 first time and without any talent for the business. If 
 Pauline had not followed so closely on his heels he 
 would probably have turned round even now and made 
 off like a hare. It seemed to him an eternity before he 
 got upstairs, and yet he found himself before he knew 
 it in the large reception-room in which Spiridion, the 
 Master's Greek secretary, was sitting at the window 
 reading a French newspaper. In his confusion Florian 
 made this dark gentleman a low bow, which, however, 
 was hardly noticed by the secretary, who bestowed a 
 questioning look on Pauline and then buried himself 
 again in his paper as the latter replied " that it was all 
 right." Pauline then entered the study of the Master, 
 who sat at a writing-table, gave him the letters and 
 announced Herr Mayr.
 
 The Examination 157 
 
 " AH, Bravo ! Pauline, I don't want to be dis- 
 turbed My young friend is going to give me an 
 artistic treat." And with a gesture of invitation he 
 requested Florian to come in. 
 
 Florian was not even able to say good-morning. He 
 made one of his spasmodic, low bows and then stood 
 with cold, moist hands, pale and trembling, near the 
 door which Pauline had shut behind him noiselessly. 
 
 " Well, what shall we play ? " asked Liszt, without 
 looking at him, as he scrutinized the newly arrived 
 letters, finally opening one which he began to read with 
 evident interest. 
 
 " I thought perhaps Beethoven," stammered Flor- 
 ian in a scarcely audible voice. The Master prob- 
 ably did not hear him. He quietly finished reading 
 the letter which seemed to amuse him greatly, for he 
 smiled as if vastly entertained by it. Then he dropped 
 the letter carelessly on the table and said lightly, " Ah, 
 Beethoven ! Bravo ! " He had understood after all. 
 An encouraging look from his wonderful eyes and a 
 benevolent smile about the closed-mouth, united with 
 a commanding gesture toward the grand piano, and 
 Florian Mayr sat down at it with paralyzed hands and 
 trembling knees. He touched the keys and played the 
 introductory measures of the " Appassionata," pianis- 
 simo, as marked. Indeed, he played so softly that he 
 was afraid the notes could not be heard at all; at least 
 he himself could hear nothing, there was such a 
 roaring in his ears. He could only see his fingers 
 crawling like long thin beetle-legs under the thorax of 
 his huge hands. But these beetle-legs crawled about 
 in a perfectly independent sort of way. He ceased to 
 feel any connection whatever between himself and his
 
 158 Florian Mayr 
 
 hands. Then he heard from the direction in which 
 Liszt sat a low " Bravo ! " followed by a sudden wrench 
 in his hands as if all ten fingers had been struck at 
 once, and suddenly he felt that he was again master 
 of these hands and played away with reckless con- 
 fidence. 
 
 When he had finished the Master patted him heartily 
 on the shoulder and said with a benevolent smile, " Very 
 good, very good! To be sure the piece can be played 
 differently, but your interpretation of it is quite justi- 
 fiable." 
 
 Florian rose from the piano-stool and asked bash- 
 fully, whether the Master would allow him to be- 
 come one of his pupils and whether he thought that he 
 had the stuff for a first-class pianist in him. 
 
 At this Liszt took hold of Florian's left hand as it 
 hung from his shoulder, lifted this mighty " piano- 
 tool " upon two fingers, examined it carefully and then 
 said, with a nod of satisfaction, " You have a good 
 hand, pchah and especially a good head." He let 
 the hand drop and stroked the youth's high, round fore- 
 head as a grandfather would that of a favorite child, 
 smiling most benignantly as he did so. " I liked your 
 head from the first," he added. " Just stay with me, 
 my young friend, and come along with the others when- 
 ever you like ! " 
 
 Florian could have shouted with exultation. He 
 could not speak a word, but he grasped the Master's 
 hand and pressed a kiss upon it. Then he answered a 
 few more questions about his education, his studies 
 hitherto and his personal circumstances, and was then 
 dismissed for this time. 
 
 As on the day before, Florian rushed out again to-
 
 The Examination 159 
 
 day into the pa I ;nd the first thing he did, when he 
 found himself alone, was to burst into tears, into tears 
 of pure joy. He was a lad who had been brought up 
 on hard knocks. Sentimentality was by no means in 
 his line, and the last time that he had wept was when 
 his mother was at death's door. He let the warm tear- 
 drops flow without feeling ashamed of them at all, but 
 he nevertheless kept out of the way of people. Over 
 there by the artificial ruin he found a lonely place, 
 where he dried his face, blew his nose vigorously and 
 burst into loud laughter. He set his beautiful new silk 
 hat on the ground, jumped twenty-five times over it and 
 back, performed a number of other gymnastic exer- 
 cises, and felt perfectly well again. But now he be- 
 gan to long keenly for a sympathetic soul to share his 
 triumph with him and he hurried with gigantic strides 
 through the lower park back to the city and went to the 
 Hotel Erbprinz, which Fraulein Badacs had indicated 
 to him as her residence. 
 
 Fraulein Badacs would hardly be visible yet, so he 
 was informed in answer to his inquiry. It could not be 
 possible, it seemed to Florian, that anyone could sleep 
 until nine o'clock on a beautiful spring morning like 
 this. He asked impatiently the number of Ilonka's 
 room and rushed up the stairs, but, just as he had 
 doubled up his knuckles to knock sharply at the number 
 indicated, the door opened suddenly and a very elegant 
 gentleman came out. Pausing a moment on the 
 threshold, he turned and whispered back into the room, 
 " Adieu, mon chat! " 
 
 As he shut the door behind him the gentleman caught 
 sight of the tall young man in the black suit and silk 
 hat, quickly averted his head and hurried noiselessly
 
 160 Florian Mayr 
 
 downstairs with the greatest rapidity. It was all so 
 quick that Florian really had not been able to recognize 
 his face. He only knew that the gentleman was slender, 
 blond, and very well dressed. He stared after him 
 with open mouth; he thought he had not seen aright, 
 but no, nonsense ! he had made some mistake 
 the number of the room must be wrong. He descended 
 the stairs again rapidly and said to the waiter who had 
 just given him the information, " Oh, excuse me, what 
 was the number of Fraulein Badacs's room ? " 
 
 " Twenty-two," replied the waiter with a knowing 
 smile. 
 
 Florian shook his head and said doubtfully, " You 
 mean twenty-three, don't you ? " 
 
 " No, twenty-two, please ! " insisted the waiter with 
 the greatest clearness. 
 
 " Yes, but," stammered Florian helplessly, " a gen- 
 tleman just. . . ." 
 
 " Oh, yes ! " continued the waiter, smiling still more 
 knowingly. " That was the doctor that is, mas- 
 seur." 
 
 " Oh, indeed ! Fraulein has a masseur ? " inquired 
 Florian, gazing reflectively at the floor and a little con- 
 fused at the same time, for this rascal of a waiter had 
 a confoundedly knowing smile. " And does the doc- 
 tor speak French ? " 
 
 " Oh, I believe he speaks seven languages." 
 
 " Indeed ! Well then, I'll leave my card here, and 
 you tell Fraulein I'll come back later." 
 
 " Very well, sir ! " The waiter bit his lip and beat 
 a hasty retreat. 
 
 Florian repaired first to his modest inn in order to 
 don a more comfortable costume, In the meantime he
 
 The Examination 161 
 
 reflected upon the extraordinary affair. In certain 
 things he possessed to be sure a very harmless cast of 
 mind, but in this case he could not quite rid himself 
 of a certain unfavorable suspicion against Fraulein 
 Badacs. Oh, dear, yes, there were masseurs enough ! 
 Ete had heard that very aristocratic ladies were even ac- 
 customed to take rubbing-artists of that kind about 
 with them when they traveled; but after all it was im- 
 possible to consider his beautiful Hungarian so aristo- 
 cratic as all that. He scratched his head, cut horrible 
 grimaces, and growled out a beautiful selection of 
 Bavarian oaths, thus succeeding at last in regaining his 
 equanimity. Why should he bother himself about such 
 crazy women's affairs on such a day of happiness and 
 jubilation as to-day? As soon as he had changed his 
 clothes he started out to look for lodgings. 
 
 As he wished if possible to live in the near vicinity 
 of the Master he began his search in the neighborhood 
 of the Art School. In the Amalienstrasse, opposite 
 the cemetery, he soon found what he sought, a room on 
 the ground floor, the furniture of which consisted of 
 samples of the skill of his landlord, a cabinet-maker. 
 Everything was of oak and beautifully carved, the pil- 
 lows and cushions all quite new, a canopy over the bed, 
 and painted beams across the ceiling. Florian hardly 
 dared to ask what all this magnificence rented for ; but 
 the room proved to be very much less expensive, al- 
 though to be sure smaller, than his dreary barrack in 
 Berlin. He therefore leased it after making sure that 
 he would be allowed to play the piano as much as he 
 liked, but with closed windows of course, according to 
 police regulations. As it was unfortunately impossible 
 to get a grand piano into the little room, Florian sighed
 
 162 Florian Mayr 
 
 at the thought that he would have to content himself 
 once more with a wretched upright. He found that he 
 was not the only one of his kind in the house of the 
 cabinet-maker, for over opposite on the other side of the 
 carriage entrance lived, as his landlord's garrulous wife 
 informed him, a Polish family consisting of a mother 
 and two daughters, the elder of whom also " went to 
 Liszt " ; and above him was lodged an Englishman with 
 two grown-up sons, one of whom played the violin 
 and the other, as the landlady expressed it, " did a lit- 
 tle bass." 
 
 Florian returned to the hotel, packed up his few 
 belongings and had them taken to the Amalienstrasse. 
 Then he decided to try his luck once more with the 
 beautiful Ilonka. But still he hesitated at the door of 
 the Erbprinz and finally passed by it quickly. It 
 would certainly be very awkward to meet this time per- 
 haps the corn-doctor on her threshold, in a word he 
 would not see her now. After all it could only have the 
 effect of spoiling his jubilant spirits. He preferred to 
 take a walk up to the Belvedere, where he breakfasted. 
 When he returned it was after one o'clock and he walked 
 back through the park to the city, in an extremely 
 vigorous condition of mind and body. 
 
 Near the Tea House he stumbled upon a small com- 
 pany of young ladies and gentlmen among whom, as 
 he went by, he recognized his Ilonka. She wore a very 
 pretty and apparently expensive spring toilette and 
 looked as blooming and rosy as a freshly washed cherub. 
 Hardly had she recognized her bearish friend, when she 
 deserted her companions, and, running toward him, 
 thrust her arm through his and pressed his right hand 
 energetically with both hers.
 
 The Examination 163 
 
 " I congratulate you, my dear friend ! " she called 
 out "Have heard everything. Told Master that I 
 knew you and you are very celebrated, very rude fellow ! 
 Master said you had a tete de bronze, liked you very 
 much, you play little like school-master, but very Ger- 
 man and solid. And you know, Herr Mayr, what else 
 he said, the Master? You shall give me lessons, just 
 think, me ! C'est cJiarmant ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! I laughed 
 so, but dear Master was angry. He say I play vulgar, 
 comme un diable boUeux, but, when I cried hard, dear 
 Master gave me a kiss. Master cannot see it that I cry, 
 always has to give me a kiss." 
 
 " Is it really true ? I am to give you lessons ? " 
 asked Florian, interrupting her charming chatter and at 
 the same time involuntarily pressing her arm closer 
 against his own. 
 
 "You like that?" 
 
 " Yes, of course that is, " 
 
 " Ah, what is ? Stupid fellow ! Say something nice 
 now ! " scolded Fraulein Ilonka laughingly, as she 
 snuggled closer to him. 
 
 Florian did not know what answer to make to this, 
 and he began therefore, very awkwardly, " By the way, 
 I was at your place once this morning." 
 
 " Yes, I heard," replied Ilonka indifferently. 
 
 "Were you ill?" 
 
 "Why ill?" 
 
 " Why, because I met the doctor at your door." 
 
 Ilonka winced and exclaimed in a low voice, " Szent- 
 seges isten!" [Holy God]. 
 
 " What did you say ? Do you have yourself massaged 
 regularly. The waiter told me the man was a mas-
 
 164 Florian Mayr 
 
 She looked up at him gratefully and, smiling in- 
 nocently, said, " Yes, of course, it was masseur, had a 
 little stiff arm, was afraid I could not play ! " 
 
 " I say, look here," returned Florian with grave 
 eagerness ; " if you take lessons of me you won't be 
 obliged to have yourself massaged by a doctor any 
 longer. I have studied medicine I'm up to that 
 too!" 
 
 " Oh, go away ! " cried Ilonka with a knowing laugh, 
 giving him a sharp dig in the ribs. 
 
 Florian was silent for a while; then he continued 
 reflectively, " I don't know very much about French, 
 but Adieu, mon chat means ' good-by, my kitty,' doesn't 
 it? That seems to me for a masseur just a little, 
 well" 
 
 "Exactly! That's just what I thought," cried 
 Ilonka quickly, knitting her eyebrows drolly. " Very 
 impertinent fellow, this masseur. I am not his kitty, 
 teremtete! I shall next time forbid it." 
 
 " Truly? " exclaimed Florian hopefully. 
 
 She pressed his arm firmly in answer, and he entered 
 the city of Weimar proudly with his Ilonka on his 
 arm.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 The Guileless Fool 
 
 IT was a beautiful day in May and Florian Mayr felt 
 perfectly satisfied with the world and all its inhabitants, 
 including himself. He had removed his boots and 
 coat and lay comfortably stretched out for the first time 
 on his canopied bed in order that he might digest in com- 
 plete repose the good dinner which he had enjoyed in 
 the company of his fair Ilonka and many other agree- 
 able associates of both sexes at the Hotel Erbprinz. 
 His Hungarian friend had found it by no means an 
 easy task to persuade him to such an extravagance for 
 he was strictly economical and knew exactly what his 
 means permitted him to do and what not. But to-day 
 in his joyous humor he was not going to be a spoil- 
 sport. He had his suspicions that among those present 
 there were some who had aroused his displeasure in the 
 garden of the Hotel Chemnitius the day before. At all 
 events everyone's behavior to-day had been entirely 
 proper, in fact, more restrained than one is accustomed 
 to expect from artists. Florian felt that he was in the 
 midst of a very refined circle and Fraulein Badacs, who 
 sat next to him, strengthened this conviction by whis- 
 pering all manner of flattering things about each mem- 
 ber of the company in turn. All these young ladies 
 came of extraordinarily good families ; " daughter of 
 his excellency " was pretty much the least ; they had re- 
 ceived the best possible education and it was necessary 
 165
 
 166 Florian Mayr 
 
 to treat them with great consideration. The gentlemen 
 of the party were in her opinion all " very important," 
 some of them, in fact, downright men of genius, all 
 " serious men and perfect cavaliers." In an assembly 
 whose members combined so many external as well as 
 spiritual advantages, the good Florian felt at first sub- 
 dued. But on Ilonka's account he was heartily glad 
 to find her associating on easy terms with so select a 
 company. He had, indeed, at the very beginning of the 
 dinner, in answer to the question how life in Weimar 
 had impressed him, stated his opinion pretty forcibly 
 concerning the " clowns, idiots, and grotesque asses," 
 whom he encountered on the street and especially con- 
 cerning the " disgusting mob " that sat yesterday 
 around the punch bowl, and all these defamatory 
 epithets had been received by the company at table with 
 an interchange of intelligent glances and acquiescent 
 nods. Florian was very glad to find among his col- 
 leagues men of such high-minded sympathies and, in 
 order to show that he knew how to do the right thing 
 and appreciated jolly sociability, he finally treated the 
 whole party to two bottles of champagne, not, to be 
 sure, of the most expensive brand. When it came to 
 paying, he grew quite sober of a sudden and these charm- 
 ing ladies and gentlemen could not prevail upon him to 
 bear them company in their further amusements. The 
 sacrifice of twenty-three marks seemed to him quite 
 enough for one day. 
 
 While he was thus taking his afternoon nap, peace- 
 ful and self-satisfied, soothed by the conviction that for 
 this large expenditure he had at least purchased the 
 acquaintanceship of some estimable people and prob- 
 ably also their good opinion of himself, the company
 
 The Guileless Fool 167 
 
 lie had left behind continued to enjoy themselves, and 
 still, indeed, at Florian Mayr's expense. In fact he 
 had scarcely left the room when all the ladies present 
 began to snicker and the gentlemen burst into loud 
 laughter. 
 
 llonka smiled, too, but she was a little bit embar- 
 rassed nevertheless as she looked round the circle of her 
 friends. " !Ko, now, go along I " she pouted. " You're 
 not nice. What is there to laugh ? " 
 
 At this a regular storm of merriment burst forth. 
 They thumped one another ; the gentlemen slapped their 
 thighs and doubled up in their joy; the ladies shook 
 with laughter; one of them choked herself with coffee 
 and had to be slapped on the back. A very young 
 Eoumanian, handsome as a picture, with elegant clothes 
 and good manners, threw kisses across the table to the 
 Badacs and cried enthusiastically : " My compliments, 
 mademoiselle, it was brilliant, 'brilliant! How you 
 do lead that honesjt fellow around by the nose! In 
 what old curiosity shop did you pick up that specimen ? 
 Holy Xepomuk, what respect the man must have con- 
 ceived for us ! What did you make out of me, pray ? " 
 
 " Je vous ai fait prince, mon charmant bebe. I said 
 that the Ispirescu were very ancient princely house, 
 really entitled to throne of Koumania. Then I said 
 national opposition party picked you out as future pre- 
 tender for national dynasty because you displayed re- 
 markable ability in earliest youth. But you, mon bebe, 
 had renounced for the present throne of Roumania be- 
 cause you preferred to become king of piano." 
 
 "Bravo! bravo! Eljen! " they all cried amid re- 
 newed laughter. And then llonka had to relate what 
 merry flam she had put upon their new associate about
 
 168 Florian Mayr 
 
 each of the party present. She was so accomplished 
 a hand at lying and possessed such a lively imagination 
 that she seized this opportunity to enlarge materially 
 upon the little tales she had served up to Florian and 
 to deck them out with all kinds of half-concealed but 
 sharp points which were greeted with jubilation by all 
 except the one hit. 
 
 Meanwhile the waiter with the uncommonly knowing 
 smile went back and forth with his ears pricked up 
 and did some thinking on his own account ; had he not, 
 with a talent scarcely inferior to that of the Hungarian 
 pianist, told the good Florian an enormous whopper 
 too, and so he felt in a way as if he were part of 
 this merry company and to each of the guests he vouch- 
 safed a ray of his incomparably knowing and amiable 
 smile. And when the company broke up, he could not 
 refrain from whispering in the ear of the last gentle- 
 man whom he helped on with his paletot the story of 
 Herr Mayr's meeting with the masseur. Of course 
 that same evening all Weimar knew it and from the 
 description everyone recognized the masseur at once: 
 a highly elegant cavalier and a distinguished artist as 
 well, who enjoyed and deserved the reputation of being 
 a dangerous Don Juan. This gentleman heard of it, 
 too, that very evening as he sat at table in the Kussi- 
 scher Hof. He was told that the headwaiter of the 
 Hotel Erbprinz had appointed him body-physician and 
 masseur to the Hungarian pianist. He was over- 
 whelmed with good-natured gibes but retained sufficient 
 good humor himself to join in the laugh, although he 
 was greatly annoyed to be caught so absurdly in the 
 very first visit he had paid his old friend. As for 
 Ilonka she was accustomed to shake off annoyances of
 
 The Guileless Fool 169 
 
 that kind as a duck sheds water. She was very angry 
 at Herr Hans von Oettern, or rather Jean d'Oettern, 
 as he, being half Parisian, preferred to be called, and 
 she swore that she should never let herself be seen in his 
 company again. But that was all there was about it 
 and it gave her no great offense when her associates 
 joked her about her masseur. 
 
 But Florian Mayr had on that same evening become 
 a celebrated man. The whole Liszt circle was laugh- 
 ing about him and had already fastened a nick-name 
 upon him. The text of Wagner's Parsifal had just 
 been published and it was the literary event of the 
 season ; it was of course almost inevitable that Florian 
 should be dubbed " the guileless fool." A strict moral- 
 ist was, indeed, something quite new in this circle, 
 which was made up, partly of the harmlessly frivolous, 
 but for the most part of the morbidly nervous, hys- 
 terical, blase, and debauched. All were most eager to 
 make the acquaintance of the " guileless fool " and in 
 this way without any prearrangement there was formed 
 then and there a secret conspiracy of all against one. 
 It was out of his easy credulity that they proposed to 
 get their fun and so each wished to contribute his part 
 to keep his illusions alive as long as possible. When 
 finally these illusions should suddenly all crumble to 
 pieces around him, why that would be a fresh source of 
 fun. Ilonka Badacs strenuously opposed the dark 
 schemes of her nearer friends who employed all their 
 wit in exploiting the mad fancies of their friend, and 
 especially the story of the masseur, as subject matter 
 for further bantering. She declared she would never 
 consent to have the good honest lad made the butt of 
 such shameful mockery ; she would confess all her lies
 
 170 Florian Mayr 
 
 to him herself and let him know the real truth about 
 her precious companions. But they were not to be 
 frightened off; not one of them took her threat seri- 
 ously. 
 
 Florian did not awake from his pleasant siesta till 
 towards evening. The Englishmen upstairs woke him. 
 He had slept through the violin practice of one of the 
 sons but now the other one began a vicious howling and 
 grumbling on his cello and there could be no further 
 thought of repose. Florian sprang from his bed and 
 went into the little dark closet adjoining which served 
 as washroom and wardrobe and had a little window 
 opening on the driveway. This little window was open 
 and through it he could hear with appalling distinct- 
 ness an infernal row, which the Polish girl was kick- 
 ing up on her piano in the ground-floor room opposite. 
 
 " Upon my soul, I can see that this is likely to be 
 very diverting ! " growled Florian, as he washed his 
 hands, and he began to consider the feasibility of com- 
 ing to some understanding with his neighbors about a 
 definite division of working hours that they might dis- 
 turb one another as little as possible. He tried to write 
 a letter to his father but between the concert above and 
 the concert below he found it impossible ; besides it had 
 grown too dark to write, so he gave it up and went out 
 to look for a place to get supper. 
 
 He could not refrain in passing from glancing in at 
 the window where the Polish family lived, for they 
 had forgotten to let down their shades. At an upright 
 piano sat a young girl, who seemed at most sixteen, a 
 pale, forlorn looking creature, neither pretty nor ugly, 
 clad only in a dark undergarment and an old jacket, 
 the sleeves of which she had outgrown. To save oil
 
 The Guileless Fool 171 
 
 a table had been moved close to the piano and a lamp 
 placed on one corner of it ; this lighted the music badly 
 enough but at the same time it furnished the necessary 
 light for the labors of the other two occupants of the 
 room. These were a sickly, emaciated woman, though 
 still young, and a little girl of about ten. The woman 
 was peeling potatoes and the child, with her fingers in 
 her ears and her sharp little face bent over a book, was 
 doubtless learning her lessons. 
 
 The etude was now ended and the older girl leaned 
 back in her chair, exhausted; she passed her finger tips 
 over her forehead and pressed her temples with both 
 hands. Then her little sister reached across the table 
 and handed her the book to have her lesson heard. It 
 did not seem to go smoothly, for very soon the older sis- 
 ter threw the book down impatiently and scolded the 
 little one. Then she began her etude again. Her 
 black eyebrows knitted with a pained expression; she 
 sat there, with her thin neck craned far forward, while 
 her large eyes glanced quickly back and forth from the 
 notes to the keys. The little girl began to cry. Her 
 mother put away the dish of potatoes, wiped her hands 
 on her apron, and, taking the child on her lap, sooth- 
 ingly stroked her head. At the same time the octave 
 passages thundered and the runs of triplets pearled from 
 the fingers of the elder sister. Suddenly she stopped, 
 staggered up from her chair, and, reaching out for 
 some support, steadied herself on the upper edge of the 
 piano. A harsh hollow cough shook her feeble frame. 
 Her mother ran to her assistance and at that moment 
 the little one, catching sight of the watcher at the 
 window, hurried to let down the shade. 
 
 With a deep sigh Florian passed on. His good heart
 
 172 Florian Mayr 
 
 was always easily moved to sympathy and even in his 
 short life he had had many opportunities to become ac- 
 quainted with the misery of the lowly, whose forlorn 
 lives contrast so cruelly with their lofty ideals. Never 
 had he turned his back upon such suffering with a 
 mere pitying shrug or a few cheap phrases; he had 
 always made it a personal matter and felt that he him- 
 self was that neighbor, in the Christian sense, whose 
 first duty it was to render assistance. At the pre- 
 paratory school and later at the university, where under 
 conditions of great privation he had studied medicine, 
 and even more since he had begun his career as a 
 musician, he had again and again shared with those 
 poorer than himself what he had earned with bitter 
 effort, although he had often reaped ingratitude and 
 wasted his sympathies upon the unworthy. He had a 
 positive passion for ferreting out misery and wretched- 
 ness of every kind among people who in any way ap- 
 pealed to his inner nature and, if they were unwilling to 
 avail themselves of his advice and aid, he was apt to 
 grow sad and finally to become absolutely ruthless in 
 pressing his assistance upon them. What he had just 
 seen through the window touched his heart powerfully ; 
 his cheerful humor was spoiled for the evening and as he 
 sat with his beer in a cheap restaurant and ate his 
 sausage, he was all the while turning over in his mind 
 how he could most delicately approach the poor Polish 
 family and perhaps aid them in some way. 
 
 When he went home about half past eight to write 
 the letter to his father, which it was important to get 
 off that evening, the two Polish sisters were just coming 
 out of the door. The elder was clad in a gray water- 
 proof, which was too large for her and reached down to
 
 The Guileless Fool 173 
 
 her feet; on her head she wore a cheap brown straw 
 hat, trimmed in shocking taste. The little one clung 
 to her arm and for protection against the cool of the 
 evening had wrapped herself in an old woolen shawl. 
 
 The two girls shrank back startled and remained 
 standing, helpless and frightened, as Florian took off 
 his hat and spoke to them. He politely asked pardon 
 for looking in at their window; he certainly had not 
 meant to be rude but he had heard her practicing 
 Liszt's etude with so much earnestness and skill that he 
 had come to the conclusion that his neighbor must be a 
 professional colleague. He hoped they would not take 
 offense at his curiosity. 
 
 The older girl looked away in hopeless confusion 
 and did not know what to reply. Her lips moved but no 
 articulate word escaped them. She dropped an awk- 
 ward little curtsey and walked quickly away with her 
 little sister, who had been tugging at her skirts. 
 
 They probably don't understand German, thought 
 Florian and, after considering a moment, he overtook 
 the two girls in a few great strides. " Excuse me, 
 ladies," he cried with a kindly smile, " Perhaps you 
 don't understand German. Popolski, is that it ? " 
 
 The little one giggled and pressed her head against 
 her sister's arm. But the latter, more alarmed than 
 ever, redoubled her pace and, without looking at Florian, 
 exclaimed hurriedly : " We don't dare." 
 
 And the little one eagerly hastened to corroborate: 
 " No, we don't dare, mamma forbids it." 
 
 " Good heavens, what makes you run so ? " cried 
 Florian, much amused, as he lengthened his great stride. 
 " What is it you don't dare ? Do I look like a thief 
 and a murderer that you race off this way? I don't
 
 174 Florian Mayr 
 
 eat little children. What do you want to be running 
 around for at night anyhow ? Won't you let me go 
 with you a little way, ladies ? " Still there was no 
 answer and as the girls ran on faster and faster he be- 
 gan to be irritated. "Well now, look here no of- 
 fense but we are colleagues and, so to speak, neigh- 
 bors; it seems to me we might at least introduce our- 
 selves and answer when we're spoken to. My name is 
 Mayr: M-a-y-r, at your service and my first name is 
 Florian. What's your name, little one ? " 
 
 " Olga Mikulska," replied the child promptly, " and 
 sister's name is Helena." 
 
 " Well, that's something at all events," said Florian 
 with a laugh, " but now tell me, Fraulein Mikulska " 
 
 Fraulein Mikulska paid no heed. She scolded her 
 little sister in Polish and then, turning angrily to him, 
 she said : " We are not allowed to talk with gentlemen ; 
 mother has forbidden it." 
 
 " Oh, nonsense, your mother is a " exclaimed 
 Florian, swallowing the " goose " with difficulty. He 
 let the two girls go and turned back in a bad humor. 
 As he passed Frau Mikulska's door, he considered for 
 a moment whether or not to go in and with his customary 
 candor to tell her that he thought she was a goose. But 
 he denied himself this pleasure for the present and re- 
 solved to give these Polish females a little more time. 
 Perhaps by and by they would discover for themselves 
 how a respectable and well-meaning young man should 
 be treated. 
 
 The next day Florian was for the first time included 
 in the so-called " Swarm " in the Hofgartnerei. It 
 was Liszt's custom to give really serious instruction only 
 to a very few chosen pupils in whom he thought he had
 
 The Guileless Fool 175 
 
 discovered some genuine musical originality ; these came 
 to him alone, or at most two or three at a time, generally 
 in the early morning and he went through with them 
 the pieces they happened to be studying. But the 
 great horde of globe-trotting folk that came together 
 here from all parts of the world and, under the pretext 
 of studying advanced piano playing or just out of gen- 
 eral love of music, sought a personal meeting with the 
 Master, these he treated in wholesale fashion. From 
 four until six every afternoon all the artists of both 
 sexes, aristocratic amateurs, and everybody else who 
 on any pretext whatsoever had procured the honor were 
 received in the Hofgartnerei. There was coffee, tea, 
 brandy, cigars, and cigarettes and, first and foremost, 
 the most animated conversation carried on in many 
 languages. Unless put out by some altogether too im- 
 pertinent importunity or other annoyance, the Master 
 displayed the most winsome amiability to all, even to 
 the most insignificant creatures, who could give him ab- 
 solutely nothing in return. His mastery of languages, 
 his knowledge of the world, his comprehensive culture, 
 his lively interest in all serious intellectual effort, en- 
 abled him to converse with each individual in the 
 " Swarm," and he almost always gave more than he 
 received. Whenever Liszt began to speak on some gen- 
 eral theme, to relate incidents of his own career, to 
 make a characteristic description of some celebrity he 
 had known, or to set forth his own observations con- 
 cerning an important work of art, the buzz of conversa- 
 tion ceased and all listened reverently to the aged 
 Master. Then with a jocular twist in conclusion he 
 would restore the informal gaiety of the occasion. 
 Florian felt terribly strange in this company. These
 
 176 Florian Mayr 
 
 widely traveled people, who had always been present on 
 the spot when anything had been going on in the world, 
 who knew something about all manner of interesting 
 things of which he had never heard, who had seen so 
 many famous men and talked face to face with them, 
 and who knew how to converse about all these things 
 so entertainingly ; especially these ladies each one of 
 whom had her own peculiar charm, be it beauty, ele- 
 gance, wit, exuberant spirits, or only the exotic charm 
 of a foreign appearance or manner, all, all seemed 
 to him like rare rich-plumaged birds from distant zones 
 and he seemed to himself nothing but a dingy little 
 yellow-billed sparrow, ^o wonder that the aged 
 Master, who, throughout his whole life from his 
 eleventh year on, had been accustomed to the admiration 
 of the choicest society of Europe, took pleasure in see- 
 ing about him this cheerful company of admirers 
 among whom new and interesting people were con- 
 stantly appearing, and in spending a few hours every 
 day in inspiring gesthetic conversation and the graceful 
 play of wit. What could Florian, the poor organist's 
 son, offer to this great man? He knew well that 
 in knowledge of the world, conversational gifts, and, 
 indeed, in all social qualities he was inferior even 
 to the youngest and most superficial of these dashing 
 young ladies. Why should this proud autocrat of the 
 realms of music care whether Florian Mayr of Bay- 
 reuth, this tall, lank, awkward youth, learned to play 
 the piano a little better or not? His courage, which 
 under the Master's praise had waxed mighty, now sank 
 into his boots again and the conviction forced itself 
 upon him that, in order to occupy an exceptional posi- 
 tion as an artist and to lay claim to special honor and
 
 The Guileless Fool 177 
 
 fame, it was not enough to possess high abilities, genuine 
 feeling, and iron industry, but, in addition to all that, 
 it was necessary to have versatility and cleverness and 
 a fine polish of the mind and the graceful forms of 
 social intercourse. He assumed as a matter of course 
 that all these ladies and gentlemen had already accom- 
 plished more in music than he had and he was extremely 
 eager to hear them play something. 
 
 To tell the truth, his mental picture of a lesson from 
 Liszt had been something quite different. More than 
 an hour had already passed in chatter, coffee drinking, 
 and in listening to the fascinating stories of the Master, 
 and no one had yet been asked to play. Now, at last ! 
 
 Liszt had just been giving a most entertaining de- 
 scription of his acquaintance with Hector Berlioz, when 
 there came a slight pause: a tall, buxom lady, who had 
 thus far taken no part in the conversation but had 
 shone merely by reason of her costly apparel and much 
 too brilliant jewels, approached the Master and, lean- 
 ing over the arm of his easy-chair, whispered to him: 
 "Pardon me, Herr Hofcapellmeister, before my de- 
 parture I should like to " 
 
 Liszt had to smile at the form of address, "Herr 
 Hofcapellmeister." He did not allow the lady to pro- 
 ceed but, rising quickly, he seized her delicately gloved 
 hand and caressed it pleasantly with both of his : " Oh, 
 fair and gracious lady, you are going to leave us ? " and 
 his glance wandered scrutinizingly over the array of 
 jewels which seemed to have been disposed like glitter- 
 ing lanterns for the special illumination of her charms. 
 
 ITlorian stood close by and was able to catch every 
 word of the half whispered conversation. 
 
 " Yes, I am only passing through here," answered
 
 178 Florian Mayr 
 
 the proud beauty, " but I could not leave Weimar with- 
 out taking with me a memento of the great hero of 
 tones and of this rarely beautiful hour." 
 
 Florian observed the look of pain that crossed Liszt's 
 features at the sound of these horrible phrases and in- 
 voluntarily his own face contracted similarly. The 
 lady handed the Master his own photograph, cabinet 
 size, in an open envelope and asked for his signature. 
 
 " Pchah ! " Irresolutely Liszt turned the picture 
 round and round and involuntarily drew down the cor- 
 ners of his mouth. Autograph collectors were always 
 very distasteful to him. Then he turned to the lady 
 again and asked with frigid politeness with whom he 
 had the pleasure of speaking. 
 
 She proved to be the wife of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 
 von , Florian did not catch the name. And, a little 
 
 piqued, the lady added that in the course of the last two 
 days she had been there three times without having been 
 admitted. 
 
 " I receive only from four to six," replied Liszt 
 briefly, wherewith he turned his back on the wife of the 
 lieutenant-colonel to go over to his writing table. 
 
 With a single step the lady was once more at his side 
 and detained him with the tip of her fan : " Pardon 
 me, Abbe, you must not think that you are giving your 
 autograph to one who is unworthy. Might I be per- 
 mitted to play something for you ? It would be of the 
 greatest benefit to me to receive your authoritative " 
 
 " Oh, I beg of you ! " said Liszt with a modest depre- 
 cating bow, smiling at the same time with a singularly 
 roguish expression, " You are an artist, also ? " 
 
 The fair one bent her head affectedly and vouchsafed 
 the Master a brilliant glance from her dark eyes.
 
 The Guileless Fool 179 
 
 " Anch' io sono " she giggled, " although of course 
 in my case it is not a matter of necessity. My father 
 was " and she mentioned the name of the head of a 
 large well-known banking house. 
 
 " Bravo ! " cried Liszt, greatly amused. " I cherish 
 no prejudices of any kind." And with a gesture of in- 
 vitation he showed her to the piano. 
 
 She sat down without the slightest trace of embar- 
 rassment, removed half a dozen bracelets from her 
 wrists, and pulled the fawn-colored suede gloves from 
 her well-rounded arms; then with her feet, which were 
 encased in beaded patent-leather slippers, she felt 
 for the pedals, at the same time raising the hem of her 
 silk skirt a little, swung her hands to test the joints, and 
 then with bold assurance ran a series of arpeggios 
 through half a dozen keys. All these preparations re- 
 quired a goodly space of time and considerably height- 
 ened the expectations of the audience. Liszt had re- 
 sumed his place in his easy-chair and was making an 
 effort to look serious. 
 
 " Would Schubert's Erl-Tcing be acceptable ? " asked 
 the lady of Lieutenant-Colonel So-and-so, nee Xheimer, 
 over her shoulder. " In your arrangement, of course." 
 
 " Very kind," replied Liszt, smiling most politely 
 and with the gesture of acquiescence of a grand seig- 
 neur. 
 
 The lady had forgotten to take off her rings. She 
 now removed them and placed them side by side upon 
 the rack, seven in all. Then at last she attacked the 
 keyboard. 
 
 Almost immediately a general suppressed snickering 
 and whispering became audible ; even some " Ah's " and 
 " Oh's " of surprise and indignation were heard. All
 
 180 Florian Mayr 
 
 eyes were fastened upon the Master. With a quick 
 nervous movement he pushed back his long white hair, 
 wrinkled his brow into threatening folds, and opened 
 and shut his wide mouth three or four times in quick 
 succession, but he said nothing ; he did not rise to stop 
 this " artist also " who was playing the Erl-Jcing in a 
 tempo which indicated, not that the father torn with 
 anguish was bearing his feverish child on a horse rush- 
 ing like the wind, but that he was taking him to the 
 doctor in a calm indifferent frame of mind on a heavy 
 truck drawn by a yoke of oxen. Soulless and hard, 
 these inartistic fingers knocked the melody out of the 
 keys and the passionate rush of the accompaniment re- 
 mained throughout the clumsy rumbling of an express 
 wagon. 
 
 And that the Master could listen to, patiently if not 
 calmly, from beginning to end ! Sunk back in his chair, 
 his lips firmly closed, there he sat, resentful but re- 
 signed. The entire company, helpless and amazed, kept 
 their eyes fixed upon him. Shakings of the head, ex- 
 cited whispers behind hands and fans revealed the gen- 
 eral disgust ISTo one could understand how the Mas- 
 ter was able to restrain himself and not interfere with 
 a stentorian " Donnerweiter ! " 
 
 Florian Mayr stood behind Liszt's chair, fidgeting 
 with excitement; rage boiled within him and he could 
 not suppress certain flattering comments, such as : " Im- 
 pudent hussy ! " and similar epithets, which he hissed 
 through his teeth. Liszt heard him and shook his pow- 
 erful forefinger warningly. 
 
 At last " the child was dead." The lady delicately 
 touched her face here and there with her lace handker- 
 chief and obviously expected applause. No sound broke
 
 The Guileless Fool 181 
 
 the stillness. In the suspense of the moment the guests 
 almost held their breath ; but the Master said nothing ; 
 he sat in his chair like one petrified. The Frau Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel flushed a deep red. She turned slowly 
 around on the piano-stool and, when she caught sight 
 of the fixed lowering countenance of the Master, she 
 sprang up, gathered up her rings, and as she hastily 
 put them on said in a voice that trembled with angry 
 disappointment : " Pardon me, Abbe, it appears, it 
 does not appear to give you any pleasure to have me 
 play for you ! " 
 
 Now at last the Master roused himself. He only 
 shrugged his shoulders and said : " pchah ! " with un- 
 mistakable contempt. Then he walked slowly over to 
 this living picture of a jewelry establishment, fastened 
 his eyes upon her heaving bosom, and forced himself 
 to smile politely : " Well, my dear lady, you have at 
 all events a very different conception of this piece ! " 
 
 He looked about in the circle of his pupils. His 
 face had grown serious and stern again. His glance 
 fell upon Florian Mayr, who stood there with his fists 
 doubled up, obviously restraining himself with difficulty 
 from laying violent hands on the fair lady. Liszt 
 placed his hand upon Florian's shoulder and said to 
 him : " Oh, oh, we are too excited, my son ! But tem- 
 perament is good. Do we play the Erl-king!" 
 
 " Certainly," answered Florian promptly, " and not 
 badly either, I think." 
 
 Liszt turned to the great lady who, still breathing 
 quickly, stood in the middle of the room, and said 
 quietly : " Herr Mayr will play the Erl-king for you, 
 madam." 
 
 This time Florian felt no trace of nervousness. The
 
 182 Florian Mayr 
 
 Erl-king was one of his show pieces and besides 
 Donnerwetter, this person and all the rest of them, too, 
 for that matter, had better be taught at once that he 
 also had some kind of a right to be here as well as they ! 
 He shook back his hair, pulled up his sleeves a little, 
 as if he were preparing for a boxing match, and then 
 dashed in at a furious tempo, a wild rush that blinded 
 and deafened. Once or twice he struck a false note, a 
 thing which the Frau Lieutenant-Colonel had not done, 
 but that did not matter in the least. The passionate 
 energy of the rendering, the powerful crescendi, the 
 highly effective color contrasts in the gentle allurements 
 of the fairy spirit, the successful differentiation of the 
 voices of man and child by the subtle touch, and the 
 deepening of terror towards the end: it was altogether 
 a splendid triumph and everyone present, not ex- 
 cepting his professional rivals, had the feeling that 
 this intensely dramatic piece of music had been rendered 
 with genuine poetic comprehension and that the per- 
 former's conception of it had been wrought out with 
 the sure touch of the genuine artist. 
 
 When he had finished he sprang up and, his brown 
 face all aglow with ardor, he turned to his honored 
 Master. 
 
 Liszt nodded to him with a satisfied smile ; then, go- 
 ing up to him, he threw his left arm around his shoul- 
 der and patted and stroked him, while with an anni- 
 hilating look he measured the proud lady who stood op- 
 posite, pale with shame and anger. " That is the way 
 we play the piece, pchah ! " he said severely in a loud 
 voice. Then, turning his back upon her, he stroked 
 Florian's cheek in a fatherly way and said softly: 
 " Very well done, my son."
 
 The Guileless Fool 183 
 
 The Frau Lieutenant-Colonel So-and-so now had noth- 
 ing better to do than to beat a hasty retreat. She must 
 feel that morally at least she had been dismissed. 
 Scarcely had she gone when Liszt, turning to the as- 
 sembled company and pointing to the door which had 
 just closed behind the chastened lady, exclaimed angrily : 
 " Pchah ! They think that we're just good enough for 
 that sort of thing ! " 
 
 The universal condemnation of the lady now found 
 cruel and unsparing utterance. The fine joyous mood 
 was dispelled for the day. Liszt was the first to get 
 the better of his bad humor. His picture which the 
 lady had handed to him for his autograph was still ly- 
 ing on the little table. He picked it up and said: 
 " Oho ! That is the property of another. I must not 
 enrich myself by unlawful means. Spiridion must 
 find out where she is stopping. I will write something 
 on this for her to remember me by. One must not 
 cherish a grudge long where handsome women are con- 
 cerned." On the back of the photograph he wrote: 
 " Presto ! presto ! Addio ! Franz Liszt." 
 
 The autograph was passed around and created much 
 malicious merriment. The conversation became gen- 
 eral and in conclusion two of the younger ladies were 
 permitted to play. Their performances were correct 
 -and in good taste, although in no way distinguished. 
 Each was rewarded by a kindly " brava " from the 
 Master who, seeing Florian's look of astonishment and 
 inquiry, went over to him and said softly with an 
 apologetic shrug of the shoulders : " What do you ex- 
 pect, my son ? They are good children, they follow me 
 around everywhere, and really take no end of pains; 
 why should I make them unhappy ? "
 
 184 Florian Mayr 
 
 The " Swarm " gradually departed and finally, obedi- 
 ent to a signal from the Master, Ilonka Badacs and 
 Florian Mayr alone remained. The Master lighted a 
 cigar and bade Florian do likewise. Ilonka knew 
 where the cigarettes were for the ladies and she smoked, 
 too, for company. Contentedly puffing at his excellent 
 Havana, Liszt took a few turns up and down the room, 
 muttering to himself: " That was a stupid affair; but 
 now let's cheer up, pchah, basta!" He stopped in 
 front of the pair, his hands behind his back, and re- 
 garded them both thoughtfully; first her, then him. 
 Then he took them by the arm, Ilonka at his right, 
 Florian at his left, and began to walk up and down 
 with them. 
 
 " You know each other, you two. I have heard, 
 know all about it, ha, ha ! I have an idea in my head 
 for you people: you have got to hm supplement 
 each other ! " He chuckled with satisfaction and 
 patted their hands. 
 
 " Kissazonyi Badacs Ilonka, galambom, is a little 
 devil. Sometimes the hell fire comes out of her at 
 every pore ; now that's when our St. Florian must pour 
 on a little cold water. Ha, ha. And my little dove, 
 my Satanic little bird, she must warm St. Florian up 
 a bit, so as to make him a little more human. Have 
 you grasped that ? " 
 
 " Yes, Master, understand perfectly," cried Ilonka 
 with flashing eyes and, opening her arms wide, she 
 balanced herself on tiptoe as if she wanted to be kissed. 
 
 But the Master waved her away with a smile. " No, 
 no, not to-day; earn it first! I want to see if you can 
 really do St. Florian any good." Then, turning to him 
 and taking him by the hand, he said : " If it would
 
 The Guileless Fool 185 
 
 give you any pleasure, my dear boy, you may come to 
 me every morning at eight o'clock and help me at my 
 work." 
 
 Florian wanted to shout for joy at this distinguished 
 honor; he quickly seized the kind hand of the revered 
 Master and kissed it Therewith they were both dis- 
 missed for the day. They took a walk together in the 
 park. Florian was beside himself with joy and pride. 
 Everybody had congratulated him to-day, these cul- 
 tured and eminent persons who seemed so superior to 
 him that he would not for a moment have dared to 
 compare himself with them. And now he had every 
 reason to consider himself singled out from all the rest, 
 for neither the mysterious pretender to the throne of 
 Roumania nor the Muscovite Boyar nor any other of the 
 whole distinguished, brilliant, and virtuous company 
 that he had met yesterday had ever been asked to help 
 the Master at his work. He rolled in the grass, stood 
 on his head, and turned cart-wheels in a transport of 
 joy ; no one happened to be near just then ; and Ilonka 
 laughed unrestrainedly at his mad capers and in a tone 
 of profound conviction declared that he was " awful 
 dear crazy fellow." They agreed that he should go 
 to her for an hour every evening. First of all she 
 wanted to go through her entire concert repertoire with 
 him carefully before beginning to practice any new 
 works. 
 
 They had almost reached the town again when Ilonka 
 with droll bashfulness asked what he was going to 
 charge her for instruction. 
 
 And Florian to tease her a little drew a serious face 
 and said : " Well, I do just as famous physicians do : 
 I charge according to the ability of the patient to pay.
 
 186 Florian Mayr 
 
 In Berlin I got ten marks from the commonest kind 
 of banker's daughters. Would you think any less of 
 me if I only asked you ten marks ? " 
 
 " Ten marks ! " she broke in, horrified, " What are 
 you thinking, my dear friend ? Do you want to make 
 pauper of me ? " 
 
 " A great lady like you, my dear Fraulein Badacs 1 
 You must be fairly rolling in wealth ; you must make 
 your curlpapers out of banknotes." 
 
 " Oh, my good gracious, what awful man you are ! I 
 am poor as a gypsy; one day I have little something, 
 next day I have not a cent. Luck, that's all I got: 
 soon as I am down to nothing then comes something." 
 
 "Where from?" 
 
 " Oh, lots of ways ; some comes from this one, some 
 from that, concerts, I mean, of course." 
 
 Florian looked at her askance in some embarrassment 
 and inquired a little hesitatingly : " But aren't your 
 parents rich? You must come of a very aristocratic 
 family." 
 
 "Who, I?" cried Ilonka hilariously. "I tell you: 
 my mother was little ballet girl in grand opera at 
 Budapest. My father, now, look here, dear friend, 
 that's all very uncertain. Possible he was gypsy chief, 
 possible he was count. Mother says it was count, but 
 I think gypsy chief because I got musical talent. But 
 count paid and that's principal thing. He was dear 
 fellow, the count, gave me very good education, first 
 in Convent of the Sacred Heart and then at Vienna 
 conservatory." 
 
 " Hm ! " murmured Florian meditatively, still shyly 
 glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, " I think 
 you have something very aristocratic about you."
 
 The Guileless Fool 187 
 
 " Well, dear friend, that's just as God will, possible 
 it was all two of them." And she laughed merrily in 
 his face so that all her splendid white teeth showed. 
 
 Florian laughed bashfully and, turning quite red, 
 stammered: "Do you know, I I've got to tell 
 you, I think you're awfully nice." 
 
 " Do you ? " she cried, clapping her hands in delight. 
 She looked around hurriedly and then suddenly rais- 
 ing herself on tiptoe, she drew his face down to hers 
 and gave him a quick hearty kiss. 
 
 The good Florian was quite frightened and looked 
 anxiously about. No, it was not probable that anyone 
 had seen them. He drew a deep breath of relief and, 
 taking her hand, squeezed it hard. " Thank you very 
 much," he said. 
 
 She snuggled up to him teasingly and said, laughing : 
 "IsTow, I've paid a little in advance, haven't I ? " 
 
 " Wouldn't you like to pay me in that coin always ? " 
 asked Florian in a low voice, bashfully bending over 
 her. 
 
 She gave him a loving look and several quick nods of 
 assent. But the streets were growing more animated, 
 so with becoming propriety he escorted her to the door 
 of her hotel.
 
 CHAPTEK X 
 An Indiscretion*' 
 
 IT was a rich and blessed springtime for our Florian. 
 Every day that he was privileged to live in the tiny 
 city of the Muses, within the magic circle of the mighty 
 genius, afforded him as much nourishment for heart 
 and soul, as much encouragement for his artistic ideals, 
 as months and years in other places. He enjoyed most 
 of all the morning hours which he usually spent quite 
 alone with Liszt. 
 
 With wonder and admiration he came to realize the 
 aged Master's extraordinary capacity for work, his in- 
 defatigable faithfulness to duty and the wonderful 
 freshness of his mind. When Elorian presented him- 
 self at eight o'clock, Liszt had already been up at least 
 three hours. Sometimes he rose even as early as four. 
 Then he went to early mass, read his breviary, and in 
 the profound serenity of the springtime morning 
 plunged himself in thoughts of the work which hap- 
 pened to occupy him at the time. After breakfast he 
 perused the morning's mail, and, by the time Florian 
 arrived, he had gone through pretty thoroughly the 
 respectable bundle which the postman brought him. 
 The secretary was given a number of letters to attend to, 
 while those of a more intimate character he retained to 
 answer himself. Florian's duties consisted for the most 
 part in helping to examine the musical compositions, 
 published as well as in manuscript, which arrived daily 
 
 188
 
 An Indiscretion 189 
 
 in goodly numbers, and to write the senders concerning 
 them. 
 
 Liszt considered it a duty which his position as fore- 
 most pianoforte virtuoso of the time, and particularly 
 as champion of the modern tendency in music, imposed 
 upon him, to examine conscientiously everything that 
 was sent him, and he devoted several hours each day to 
 this by no means easy task. Upon superficial material 
 of the popular sort that was only the product of a me- 
 chanical facility he naturally wasted but little time. 
 Stuff of this kind was disposed of with a joke and rele- 
 gated to its proper category. But the moment the Mas- 
 ter, during the first cursory inspection of a manuscript, 
 was able to discover even the slightest proof of origin- 
 ality, of sincere striving after new forms of expression, 
 or a firm command of the established forms of art, he 
 lingered, and set himself to examine carefully. At 
 such times he would sit down at the piano himself and 
 play off the often extremely illegible and most intricate 
 scores as easily as if they were clearly printed notes. 
 It often happened that he requested Florian to play 
 a manuscript of this kind with him four-handed. At 
 first the young man found this extremely difficult and 
 he considered himself fortunate if he only got the bass 
 right and brought out the more important parts. But 
 under the Master's instruction he learned rapidly and 
 much. 
 
 After Florian was dismissed, Liszt worked for sev- 
 eral hours alone, until eleven or twelve o'clock. Then 
 he made or received visits, and after that lunched, 
 usually at the home of one of his older women friends 
 or at the Grand-Ducal palace, but less often alone. 
 When he ate at home someone or other of his more
 
 190 Florian Mayr 
 
 favored pupils was invited to keep him company, which 
 was also the case during the walks which Liszt was ac- 
 customed to take towards evening, after the " Swarm " 
 had dispersed. The rather frequent soirees which the 
 Master gave bore more the character of formal concerts. 
 To these many laymen were invited, particularly mem- 
 bers of the Court circle. The Grand Duke himself was 
 almost a regular guest at these functions, as well as his 
 daughters, the Princess Reuss and the Princess Eliza- 
 beth, both at that time unmarried. Upon those even- 
 ings when Liszt neither went out nor himself enter- 
 tained, he spent the time composing or reading. He 
 retired at eleven, sometimes even later. 
 
 Florian was happiest whenever, in the glorious morn- 
 ing hours, he succeeded in turning the conversation upon 
 Liszt's own compositions and the Master consented to 
 play them through with him at the piano. The great 
 choral and orchestral works of Franz Liszt were in 
 those days far more than now aliens in the musical 
 world, and were regarded with jealous suspicion. The 
 marvelous plastic genius and dramatic vigor of Richard 
 Wagner had long ago silenced the hue and cry of the 
 musical dryasdusts and completely carried away the 
 greater part of the public. The " Art of the Future " 
 had already actually become the ideal of the present, 
 and yet Liszt, in the production of his symphonic poems 
 and great choral works, though they were born of the 
 same spirit as Wagner's music-dramas, had, in the year 
 1880, to contend against the timidity of concert-direc- 
 tors, the malice of the critical clique and lack of under- 
 standing on the part of the public, just as Wagner had 
 to do till well into the seventies. It was perhaps the 
 only sorrow that saddened the twilight of the life of the
 
 An Indiscretion 191 
 
 happiest artist of the century, the one bitter experience 
 that from time to time filled even that great, good, for- 
 giving heart with agonizing resentment. Unselfishly he 
 had stood aside when the ruthless, virile genius of Wag- 
 ner demanded a free road for its development. He had 
 helped with all his powers to even the way of him whom 
 he himself recognized as the greater. He had made 
 known and elucidated Wagner's works with voice and 
 pen, and by means of his own money and indefatiga- 
 ble efforts he had kept above water the exile struggling 
 with want. 
 
 ~Now the other had gone forth a glorious victor, while 
 he himself, who through his own works had been the 
 predecessor and the champion of the Titan of Bayreuth, 
 was still looked upon by the generality of men only as 
 the greatest pianist of the century, but not as a com- 
 poser of the utmost originality as well, not as the pow- 
 erful neo-musician and pathfinder. Therefore as soon 
 as he found that this simple Florian Mayr knelt in 
 touching veneration at the feet not only of the piano 
 hero but still more reverently before the composer, the 
 sympathy that he had felt with the unassuming young 
 man grew into a sincere paternal affection, which found 
 its nourishment in the hope of educating Florian to be- 
 come an intelligent interpreter of his great misunder- 
 stood works, a faithful guardian of his spiritual herit- 
 age. And thus, during these fruitful morning hours, 
 there developed in the son of the Bayreuth organist a 
 genuine Liszt conductor. 
 
 And Liszt very soon discovered one more extremely 
 valuable characteristic in his pupil, his wrathful impa- 
 tience of intrusive parasites, the crowd, actuated only 
 by curiosity, that sought on all occasions to invade the
 
 192 Florian Mayr 
 
 Master's privacy. As a scare-crow, as an inexorably 
 stem Cerberus, and, if necessary, an efficient " chucker- 
 out," nobody could be better than Florian Mayr. With 
 his exaggerated good-nature Liszt was completely de- 
 fenseless against energetic attacks. He even allowed 
 himself to be bullied into friendship and the intimate 
 use of " thee " and " thou " by several absolutely in- 
 significant persons who had at some time or other done 
 him a service and now made capital out of his gratitude. 
 Here Florian proved to be a perfect jewel. He showed 
 no consideration, either for the fair sex or for name or 
 station, and he carried out the most unpleasant com- 
 missions with genuine delight Neither by flattery nor 
 angry looks nor sharp words could he be moved to in- 
 dulgence towards people from whom the Master wished 
 to be spared. It was, therefore, perfectly natural that 
 he soon became known in Weimar as the Master's latest 
 favorite, and made on that account almost as many 
 jealous enemies as he had colleagues. Nevertheless 
 people took good care not to quarrel with him, for if 
 he were actuated by the spirit of revenge, he might 
 do them a very bad turn. They preferred, therefore, 
 to flatter him to his face, and make sport of him behind 
 his back ; whenever one of them had a favor to ask of 
 the Master he seldom omitted to bespeak Herr Mayr's 
 good offices. But Florian harshly rejected all ad- 
 vances even of the most harmless nature, and he could 
 not be bribed even by the seductive glances of fair 
 ladies. The only feminine being for whom he had 
 promptly put in a good word was his neighbor, Helena 
 Mikulska, although he stood on no more intimate foot- 
 ing with her than on the first day, in spite of the most 
 friendly advances on his part No matter how often
 
 An Indiscretion 193 
 
 he spoke to her, he never received any other answer than 
 the same silly, stupid, " Mother will not permit." Once 
 or twice he had met the mother herself in the corridor 
 but she was even worse than her daughter. She had 
 stared at him with a horrified expression, as though he 
 had demanded her money or her life, and had run away 
 with the most ridiculous haste. He learned from his 
 landlady that this singular woman understood almost 
 no German and was possessed of an almost childish fear 
 of thieves, murderers, and ghosts. As for the rest, she 
 was still a young woman, scarcely over thirty, hut her 
 helpless and forsaken condition and her dire need stared 
 from her sunken eyes and gave her faded cheeks their 
 chalky paleness. It was of no avail that Florian again 
 and again called himself a fool and wished these " stupid 
 women-folks " to the devil. Their heart-breaking 
 misery went to his sympathetic heart day by day and 
 left him no peace. On this account he told Liszt about 
 the young girl's extraordinary industry and uncom- 
 mon talent and asked permission for her to play to him, 
 so that she might, when once provided with the powerful 
 recommendation of Franz Liszt, earn her living some- 
 where. The Master requested him to bring the girl 
 with him on the very next morning, and promised to 
 do all he could for her. 
 
 Full of delight Florian hurried home and knocked 
 without ceremony on the Mikulskas' door. There was 
 no " Come in " in answer to his knock but he heard an 
 exciting whispering after the sudden interruption of 
 the piano-playing, and then steps approached the door 
 on tiptoe. Probably somebody was trying to look 
 through the keyhole. Then he knocked lightly again, 
 opened the door at once and entered the room. Eight
 
 194 Florian Mayr 
 
 enough, little Olga sprang to one side in a fright. 
 The mother stood with the elder daughter at the piano 
 and both received the intruder with a low exclamation. 
 
 With a good-natured laugh Florian greeted them, 
 " How do you do, ladies ? Now don't get frightened ! 
 It's only me, and I bring you some very good news! 
 I suppose you will allow me to sit down a bit ? " And 
 without waiting for the formal permission, he seated 
 himself in the nearest chair, nodded pleasantly to 
 the elder sister and said gaily, " Now Fraulein 
 Helena, just listen to me. To-morrow morning at eight 
 o'clock you are to go to Master Liszt and play some- 
 thing for him. He will do something for you so that 
 you can get out of your present wretehed situation. 
 Well what do you say now ? The same old thing again, 
 4 Mother will not allow?'" 
 
 Helena turned red and deathly pale by turns and 
 then the two girls talked Polish with their mother with 
 great volubility. That took some time but Florian let 
 them chatter on and contented himself with carefully 
 watching their gestures. Little Olga was apparently 
 the only one who was delighted with the good news, and 
 eagerly tried to persuade the other two to take advan- 
 tage of the opportunity, while the mother and Helena 
 had nothing but objections and complaints. But at 
 last, as nobody seemed to want to make him any answer 
 at all, Florian became impatient. He took the little 
 girl by the hand, drew her to him, and said, " Come here, 
 child, you seem to be after all the most sensible of the 
 lot. Just tell me what it all means anyhow! Isn't 
 your sister pleased about it at all ? " 
 
 11 Oh, yes, sister is glad Why, we only came here 
 to play to Liszt, but we have nothing to wear ! "
 
 An Indiscretion 195 
 
 " Oh, if you think the Master cares more about your 
 clothes than he does how you play, you're mightily mis- 
 taken." 
 
 Olga interpreted to her mother in Polish what 
 Florian had said, and thereupon ensued a new and 
 agitated chapter of lamentations between Helena and 
 her mother. The excited girl stood before Florian, 
 blushing with shame, and passed her hand over her 
 emaciated form, which was clad only in an old brown 
 woolen underskirt and a red striped cotton blouse. 
 
 " There, look please, Herr Mayr," she said. " That's 
 fine, isn't it? Mother has the best gown on; it does 
 for us both. The one who goes out puts on the best 
 gown with the water-proof. The water-proof belongs 
 to both also." Little Olga interrupted angrily and, 
 crying out something in a shrill voice, ran to the clothes- 
 press and pulled out all the little stock of finery that 
 was there. She threw the stuff on the table, and then 
 all three went at it, pulling over skirts, waists, and 
 blouses and spreading them out before Florian, at the 
 same time calling his attention to their general shab- 
 biness and the many patches, screaming all the while 
 such a mixture of Polish and German that it was hardly 
 possible to understand a word. Olga praised with 
 great eagerness a white dress which seemed to be still 
 in fair condition, but Helena declared that it would 
 hardly reach below her knees, and she threw it angrily 
 into the excited little one's face. 
 
 Florian was quite in despair over these " aggravating 
 females," and at last he yelled out, " Great heavens and 
 earth, go in your chemise and water-proof, if you want 
 to ! All such miserable matters are of no account what- 
 ever!"
 
 196 Florian Mayr 
 
 And as the three set up another loud wail he added, 
 " All right, then we will wait a few days until you've 
 found something decent to put on. Meanwhile I'll ad- 
 vance the necessary money if you haven't got it your- 
 selves. The great thing is that you get somewhere 
 sometime. You'll practice until you go plumb daft, 
 and anybody can see a mile away that you're starving 
 yourselves." 
 
 " Oh, we don't go hungry much," exclaimed Olga. 
 " We always have bread and milk and potatoes." 
 
 " But Lord bless me," shouted Florian, " you can't 
 nourish your nerves with that sort of thing ! And you 
 use up more nerves in a month in the insane way you 
 practice than anybody else in a whole year ! What are 
 you waiting for ? Or have you capital enough to keep 
 you until Fraulein Helena can be thrown at the public 
 as a virtuoso ? Don't you imagine that you can make 
 a fortune as easy as turning your hand over. You'll 
 kill yourself before that anyhow, stuffing yourself with 
 potatoes and ruining your nerves. And if you do get 
 as far as giving concerts, do you think for a moment 
 that the public will fight for the tickets just to see a 
 poor miserable little chicken in an old dress with noth- 
 ing behind and nothing in front ? " 
 
 Helena listened with wide opened eyes and face dis- 
 torted with grief, and translated breathlessly to her 
 mother the sense of his words. All at once the two 
 women began to cry, sobbing in each other's arms as if 
 their hearts would break. Florian was sorry that he 
 had told them the truth so plainly and brutally. He 
 went over and began to console them, but they fled from 
 him into the farthest corner of the room. He gave it 
 up with a sigh, stroked the little girl's glossy brown hair
 
 An Indiscretion 197 
 
 as he went by and whispered, " Little one, you're sensi- 
 ble, you talk to them and bring me word what's to be 
 done. You shall have some chocolate, too ! " With 
 that he left the room. 
 
 After lunch Florian bought a few pieces of chocolate 
 and all kinds of sugar cakes, and, as he passed the show- 
 window of a milliner's establishment, his eye fell upon 
 a couple of pretty children's hats which pleased him so 
 much that he went in and bought one of them, a large, 
 bright-colored straw hat, prettily trimmed with a broad 
 red silk ribbon. Little Olga was going about in her 
 shabby old felt hat with its dirty crumpled ribbon and 
 its bristly feathers. He enjoyed in anticipation the 
 big eyes that the child would make when she saw all 
 this magnificence and was confident that the elder sis- 
 ter would also learn to trust him and accept his assist- 
 ance. Near the door of his house he ran upon the 
 Englishmen who lived over him, Mr. Crookes, with his 
 two big sons, who, although they were already nineteen 
 and seventeen years, wore knickerbockers and ridicu- 
 lously short jackets, which at that time, when athletic 
 sport with its beneficial influence upon male dress still 
 led a very modest existence in Germany, excited a great 
 deal of notice. Florian had not as yet made the ac- 
 quaintance of the Englishmen, but he had exchanged 
 a few words with them on occasion, so that he might at 
 least say that he knew them. Like all Germans, 
 Elorian considered every Englishman who lived abroad 
 as immensely wealthy, and the thought struck him to 
 exploit this Mr. Crookes for the Mikulskas' benefit. 
 After several preparatory phrases, he invited the three 
 to accompany him to his room. 
 
 The Crookes, who, like all Englishmen when con-
 
 198 Florian Mayr 
 
 fronted with continental politeness, fell into an almost 
 helpless stiffness, accepted this invitation wonderingly, 
 and, after they had seated themselves, awaited FLorian's 
 next step. For the rest they understood and spoke 
 German very well for Englishmen. 
 
 Florian began by asking them whether he might not 
 offer them a glass of beer and this invitation was re- 
 fused by father Crookes with scarcely concealed in- 
 dignation. Then Florian took the straw hat that he 
 had just bought from its paper wrapper, showed it to 
 his guests with droll satisfaction and asked what it 
 was. 
 
 " Well, that is the hat of a very little girl," answered 
 Mr. Crookes with perfect equanimity, while the two 
 boys grinned bashfully. 
 
 " Correct; but where is the little girl for this hat ? " 
 continued Florian artfully, and as he received no an- 
 swer to this question save a shrug, he pointed over his 
 shoulder with his thumb and whispered mysteriously, 
 " She lives over there and her name is Olga Mikul- 
 ska!" 
 
 The faces of the two boys wore a queer expression and 
 their father frowned at them askance. He seemed 
 actually to have taken for granted that this Florian 
 Mayr was a very frivolous young fellow, who found a 
 peculiar pleasure in initiating everybody he met into 
 his unscrupulous schemes. He began to consider how 
 he could politely retire and withdraw his innocent boys 
 from this dangerous company. 
 
 Florian did not suspect to what extraordinary mis- 
 interpretation he had exposed himself, but went on to 
 describe in plain words the distress and misery of their 
 neighbors and finished by inviting his guests to con-
 
 An Indiscretion 199 
 
 tribute towards procuring the most necessary articles of 
 clothing for the young pianist. 
 
 A pause of some length ensued. The close of 
 Florian's speech had evidently astonished his hearers. 
 Curiously enough the youngest Master Crookes was the 
 first to speak. He turned to his father and expressed 
 his most emphatic opinion that the young lady in ques- 
 tion was very ugly. 
 
 The elder brother giggled behind his hat and con- 
 firmed this opinion with an emphatic, "Yes, indeed 
 she is!" 
 
 " Please mind your own business, will you ? " snapped 
 the old gentleman at his two big boys. Then he 
 took his chin in his hand, rubbed it reflectively, tapped 
 his nose with his fore-finger and by dint of these prepara- 
 tions finally found himself in the position to announce 
 his opinion on the subject. "I'll tell you," he said, 
 " I don't like Liszt, I don't like any of that kind of 
 music; I like Handel, Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, 
 and Brahms but I don't like Brahms so very much." 
 
 " Very good, but, my dear sir, what has that got to 
 do with it? I for instance love Liszt above all and 
 everything but, surely, you wouldn't let me drown 
 if you happened to come along and could help me easily, 
 would you ? " 
 
 " Oh, that's quite different," replied Mr. Crookes un- 
 moved. " You may like what you wish, my dear sir, 
 for you don't want my money for yourself; but if this 
 young girl wants my money for herself, then she must 
 like what I like." 
 
 Florian ran his fingers through his hair despairingly. 
 " But, Mr. Crookes," he cried, " Damn it, man I beg 
 your pardon ! Let's leave music out of the question and
 
 200 Florian Mayr 
 
 just remember that there are here three respectable 
 women who are simply starving. They are living on 
 milk, bread, and potatoes, and never get a taste of 
 meat!" 
 
 " Oh, that is very wholesome," replied Mr. Crookes, 
 wagging his head. " The man who eats parts of dead 
 animals nourishes only his evil instincts and is not 
 adapted for true philosophy ! " 
 
 Florian was barely able to control himself. With 
 the greatest effort he swallowed an oath at least a yard 
 long, and said with a nervous laugh, " So you won't do 
 anything? Well, all right. I have only to thank the 
 gentlemen for listening to me so patiently. As a dead- 
 carcass-eating Lisztite I must be in your eyes an object 
 of physical and moral disgust ! " 
 
 Mr. Crookes smiled as pleasantly as the long leathery 
 wrinkled character of his face allowed and remarked, 
 
 " Oh, my dear sir, you are not lost jet ; it's never too 
 late to mend, we say in English. I'll send you a few 
 pamphlets and I hope that you will improve. Further- 
 more I would like to advise you regarding that young 
 girl. Follow my principle never to interfere! Good 
 morning, my dear sir, I am very glad to have met you ! " 
 He gave Florian's hand a vigorous shake, the two young 
 gentlemen silently followed his example and then all 
 three took their departure. 
 
 For a few seconds Florian stared at them with open 
 mouth and then broke into boisterous laughter. Sud- 
 denly came a loud knock at the door and Mr. Crookes 
 senior reentered the room. Standing on the threshold 
 with the door-knob in his hand he spoke as follows: 
 " Oh, I forgot I'll do something after all ! I'll ask 
 the spirits whether these girls will really starve to
 
 An Indiscretion 201 
 
 death; and if the spirits tell me that these girls will 
 really starve to death, then I'll give them something 
 for bread and milk." With a nod of the head he 
 backed out without waiting to note the effect of his 
 words. 
 
 Florian threw himself upon his lounge and kicked 
 out wildly with his legs to give vent to his feelings. He 
 had never seen such lunacy in all his life before. 
 
 As nothing was to be hoped for from this quarter in 
 the furtherance of his philanthropic plans, he cast about 
 in other directions for assistance. Suddenly Ilonka 
 Badacs occurred to him. Well, that he had not 
 thought of her in the first place ! She fairly threw her 
 money about, and she had a good heart too! The re- 
 lations between them just at this time were extremely 
 pleasant. Florian's instruction was a source of great 
 delight to both. She was very industrious and never 
 took his sometimes harsh criticism amiss, and he was 
 proud of having such a highly gifted pupil, almost for- 
 getting in the enthusiasm of his artistic work that he 
 was a bit in love. He got his kiss regularly at the end 
 of the lesson and sometimes two or three extra ones, 
 but it had become such an established custom with them 
 that they had finally come to regard such little expres- 
 sions of affection as friendly jests. Ilonka, the Good, 
 must help, and with this idea in his head he dozed off 
 into his midday siesta. 
 
 He was awakened by a faint knock at the door. 
 " Come in ! " he called, springing to his feet and rub- 
 bing his eyes. There stood little Olga Mikulska on 
 the threshold. She shut the door behind her quickly 
 and made an embarrassed little curtsey. 
 
 " Well, how do you do, child ? " called out Florian
 
 202 Florian Mayr 
 
 cheerily. He took her hand and led her to the table 
 where the hat and the sweetmeats lay. 
 
 " Before you say anything open your mouth wide," 
 he cried to the hesitating child. She did as he told 
 her and he stuffed a large piece of cake into her mouth. 
 The little girl chewed and her big eyes shone with de- 
 light as she ate. She could hardly believe that this 
 magnificence was all for her, and particularly the beau- 
 tiful hat which the kind gentleman placed upon her 
 head ! She let him stuff piece after piece of cake into 
 her mouth and lead her up to the mirror where she could 
 admire her finery. 
 
 Florian had, indeed, to confess to himself that the 
 fine hat did not go at all with the little girl's miserable 
 rags, and it was impossible to make anything out of 
 her ordinary face with its bad complexion and her two 
 blond braids hanging down behind in peasant fashion, 
 but he nevertheless enjoyed the speechless surprise of 
 the poor child and told her that the hat became her 
 beautifully. 
 
 It was not until Olga had eaten up all the cake that 
 he asked her what decision her sister Helena had 
 reached. 
 
 " Boje pomoz mnie sister is stupid," whispered 
 Olga with a droll gesture of deprecation, " and mother 
 is ! . . ." Then she hesitated. 
 
 " Mother is stupid too ! " completed Florian with a 
 satisfied nod of assent. " Well, and what does mother 
 say?" 
 
 " Mother says ladies must not take presents from gen- 
 tlemen, for it is dangerous ! " 
 
 " That's a very wise precept of mother's," teased 
 Florian, imitating the child's accent. "But I'll tell
 
 An Indiscretion 203 
 
 you what, little one, nobody's going to give you any- 
 thing who doesn't really want to help you ! " 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " Lord bless you, because your looks are not that way, 
 you poor things ! " murmured Florian half to himself. 
 The child looked up at him without comprehending 
 and he patted her pale cheeks tenderly. He asked 
 Olga many things about their circumstances, and it was 
 not difficult to induce her to talk. The father, Herr 
 von Mikulski, had been staff captain in the Kussian 
 army, but had been exiled to Siberia as a political sus- 
 pect when Olga was only three years old. He left his 
 family in the most straitened circumstances with a 
 small capital that brought them scarcely six hundred 
 marks a year interest. The mother was not able to 
 earn anything, for physically she was too delicate, and 
 beyond that she had learned next to nothing that could 
 be turned to account. Then Helena made up her mind 
 to develop her musical gifts which she had shown at 
 an early age. A Warsaw professor had interested him- 
 self in her and given her lessons for nothing. Dur- 
 ing the last few years the weakness in her lungs had 
 developed so alarmingly that the physicians had pre- 
 scribed a continued residence in a more southerly cli- 
 mate as absolutely necessary. In order to make possi- 
 ble this change the mother had been obliged to sell all 
 her movable property. They had lived for a year in 
 a small and cheap city of Galicia where Helena's health 
 had, indeed, improved, and now they had been a month 
 in Weimar, which in their simplicity they seemed to 
 regard as lying in the far south, and were living along 
 aimlessly under the most cruel privations, borne up 
 only by the hope that Liszt would help Helena to secure
 
 204 Florian Mayr 
 
 a position, or that the father would perhaps be pardoned 
 and returned to them. 
 
 Up to the present time Helena did not appear to have 
 taken any rational steps to earn anything with her piano 
 playing, and it was very apparent from Olga's account 
 that the mother was mostly to blame for this. This 
 good lady was evidently a frightfully stupid person 
 and possessed of an absolutely ridiculous dread that her 
 poor, ugly, emaciated daughters would fall victims to 
 the importunities of the opposite sex. On this account 
 it was naturally impossible for her to secure helpful 
 friends and influential patrons. 
 
 During the little one's narrative there came a knock 
 at the door, and upon Florian's " Come in " the two 
 young Crookes entered the room. They were both 
 red in the face, and carried out with embarrassed haste 
 their father's commission; this was to deliver to Flor- 
 ian a number of tracts and pamphlets, which treated of 
 the pernicious effects of alcohol, the preeminent quali- 
 ties of vegetarianism, and the glories of spiritualism; 
 most of these were in English. 
 
 The two lads seemed to be in a hurry to get away, 
 but Florian held them fast and laughingly begged them 
 to take at least the English part of the writings back 
 with them, as he did not understand that language. 
 But the elder Master Crookes put on a knowing expres- 
 sion and replied, " Oh, you need not read them at all ; 
 father is satisfied if you only keep them. He gets them 
 by weight. Oh, we have pounds and pounds of every 
 kind, and it's awful sad because people in Germany 
 won't take that kind of thing even for a gift." 
 
 " Well, I can do that favor, at least," laughed Flor-' 
 ian, and then he introduced the two young gentlemen to
 
 An Indiscretion 205 
 
 little Fraulein Mikulska and begged all three to be 
 eated. 
 
 He offered them cigars but of course the young gen- 
 tlemen were not allowed to smoke. Florian got very 
 nervous. He scratched his head, rolled his eyes up 
 comically, and called out, " Lord bless my soul, what a 
 crazy world this is ! I have no doubt that one can live 
 without meat, beer, or tobacco, if necessary, but when 
 one is not allowed to touch any of those things in 
 youth, I should think one would get a perfectly in- 
 fernal appetite for them ! " 
 
 " Oh, we've already eaten meat! " boasted the younger 
 Crookes. " We've got an aunt ; father hates her ; but 
 she's very rich and is going to leave us something in 
 her will when she dies and so father sends us to visit 
 her sometimes. He hates her because she gives us meat 
 and wine and everything that we're not allowed to 
 have. But we like meat no end. Dick likes it even 
 more than I do," and he nodded towards his elder 
 brother. 
 
 " Oh," said Dick, pointing mischievously at his 
 brother ; " and Bob was drunk once, on a Sunday too ! 
 And he took a black cat to church under his arm and 
 during the service he let her go. All the people laughed 
 so when she jumped up on the chancel, and the curate 
 got such a fright ! " 
 
 " Oho ! " cried Florian, " that shows that the devil 
 lives in alcohol. And what did your father say to 
 that?" 
 
 " Oh, he never found it out," replied Bob with roguish 
 joy. " Aunty gave me a box on the ear and then it was 
 all right." The two young gentlemen now became quite 
 at home and loquacious. The visit to their aunt was
 
 206 Florian Mayr 
 
 evidently among their most cherished memories and 
 they recounted with childish glee all the larks that they 
 had had there. Florian liked the big, inoffensive lads 
 very well and little Olga laughed out loud several times 
 at their stories. They left soon afterwards, as their 
 time for practicing had arrived. They asked Florian 
 if he would not sometimes play trios with them. He 
 accepted this invitation readily and accompanied them 
 to the door. There Dick caught him by the sleeve and 
 drew him into the corridor, where he whispered in an 
 embarrassed way, " We would so much like to do some- 
 thing for the poor Polish girls, but we haven't any money. 
 Father almost never gives us money. We really don't 
 need any either, for father is always with us and pays for 
 everything. We only have money when we win prizes 
 at boxing or foot-ball or something like that." And 
 Bob added with an important air, " Oh, I won a pound 
 once, because I knocked two of father's teeth out box- 
 ing. He was very proud of me. But we don't box 
 any more now because it spoils the hands for playing the 
 violin." 
 
 With that they took their leave and ran merrily up 
 the stairs. Florian now sent little Olga away, for he 
 heard from over the way how Helena suddenly stopped 
 her practicing on account of a terrible fit of coughing. 
 He told her to admonish her sister to husband her 
 strength carefully, as it was absolutely necessary that 
 she should go with him to Liszt sometime during the 
 next few days. He believed that he could promise her 
 that the clothing problem would be happily solved to- 
 day or to-morrow at the latest. 
 
 On this day he went to Fraulein Badacs earlier than 
 usual as he felt the necessity of giving vent to his feel-
 
 An Indiscretion . 207 
 
 ings. "Do you know, my dearest Ilonka," he began 
 without further preface, as soon as he found himself 
 sitting on the comfortable sofa in her pretty rooms, 
 "Do you know what the greatest curse in this world 
 really is?" 
 
 " Oh, go away, Herr Mayr, now you want to scold at 
 us women again. Is not nice of you, when I'm so kind 
 to you ! " And she bent down quickly over his shoulder 
 and kissed him. 
 
 " Thanks very much," laughed Florian, " but I don't 
 mean the women at all, I mean the parents in gen- 
 eral. It's quite impossible to say how many parents 
 ruin their children, mostly spiritually. It makes me 
 so angry I could just . . ." and he brought his fist 
 down upon the table with a thump. " How many fine 
 young people have I known who never will amount to 
 anything and never can, because they've got foolish 
 parents. But of course the world has always been 
 tyrannized over by a lot of stupid proverbs, like, for in- 
 stance, ' Old age under all circumstances must be re- 
 spected,' and, ' The egg mustn't try to be wiser than 
 the hen.' Lord bless me, I won't say anything about 
 the egg, but one thing is sure, and that is that the young 
 cock is wiser than the old hen every time! And I'd 
 like to know why an old fool should be worthy of respect 
 and a young fool be only just a fool! If anyone is 
 born a blockhead, he's going to be a bigger one as the 
 years go by. Now, why is it that old people stick to 
 their opinions so obstinately ? Why, just because they 
 can't make their influence felt by what they are still 
 able to accomplish or by their personal qualities, and 
 so they just bully those who are dependent on 'em and 
 can't defend themselves! Bless my soul, the beasts of
 
 208 Florian Mayr 
 
 the field are cleverer ! As soon as the young ones can 
 eat and run and take care of themselves, the parents let 
 'em go and don't bother themselves about 'em any 
 longer ; and that's right, that's the rational, sacred order 
 of nature confound it all ! " And he banged his fist 
 down on the table again with a violence that made the 
 tea-things jingle. 
 
 He looked so funny in his righteous indignation that 
 Ilonka was seized with a fit of hysterical laughter. 
 She tried to speak but she could not get out a word. 
 
 " Oh, yes, you may laugh as much as you please ! " 
 continued Florian earnestly, as soon as she had recov- 
 ered somewhat. 
 
 " Not one of your two or more fathers ever bothered 
 himself about you, and so far as your Mamma Hoopla 
 is concerned well, the Lord rest her soul ! If a man 
 is going to amount to anything, he's got to do it him- 
 self. But when his parents try to force something out 
 of him, they usually begin at the wrong end, and it's a 
 beastly failure. Isn't that so ? " 
 
 " Why, of course is so ! " cried Ilonka still laugh- 
 ing. " Friend Mayr, you are very famous philoso- 
 pher!" 
 
 " A lot of philosophy is needed for that ! " bawled 
 Florian. " All you want is two eyes and a little com- 
 mon sense, and you see enough things every day to make 
 you furious for the rest of your life ! I say there are 
 two kinds of parents, in the first place those whose chil- 
 dren are just as damned idiotic as they are themselves, 
 and then those whose children are much cleverer than 
 they. The first try to teach their children things that 
 absolutely won't go into their thick skulls and so make 
 'em miserable ; the others call it impudent if their chil-
 
 An Indiscretion 209 
 
 dren's ideas take another direction from their own, and 
 they try with all their might to crush out the incon- 
 venient originality. It's a shame such a bunch can't 
 be prosecuted for infanticide ! There, Fraulein 
 Ilonka, I've had my say, and I feel better, thank 
 the Lord ! And now just pay attention ; I'm going to 
 prove my assertions by appropriate examples." 
 
 And he related with the eloquence of indignation the 
 case of the Crookes and the case of the Mikulskas. 
 
 He could not have found a more sympathetic listener 
 than his Hungarian friend. She burned with impa- 
 tience to make the acquaintance of the eccentric Papa 
 Crookes and to play him a jolly good trick. But the 
 story of poor Helena Mikulska really went to her heart, 
 and she at once declared her intention of giving her 
 some of the most necessary things from her own ward- 
 robe, so that the young girl might be suitably fitted 
 out. She would take her the things herself that very 
 evening and was sure that Mother Mikulska would, in 
 the case of a lady, not persist in her foolish refusal to 
 accept anything. With feverish ardor she began to 
 rummage in her wardrobe and boxes to find something 
 that would do for her poor fellow musician. It was 
 not easy, for most of her gowns were much too elegant 
 and costly. At last, after much deliberation between 
 the two, she put aside for Helena a simply made silk 
 dress, not quite new. But that was not enough. The 
 poor girl had to have linen and underwear to go with 
 it. And she literally threw the entire contents of her 
 bureau-drawers upon the floor, examined everything 
 piece by piece and finally selected two pairs each of 
 stockings and drawers, two chemises, one white and 
 one colored underskirt, all in good condition and new.
 
 210 Florian Mayr 
 
 " There ! " she exclaimed gayly, as she rose from the 
 floor, " Qa va bien pour le commencement, she can 
 always have one half washed, will last for months. I 
 done that already myself when all was at pawnbrok- 
 er's ! We will change the dress so it fits. Mother can- 
 not be so big goose that she cannot sew ? All right now 
 but shoes, but I have too sweet little foot, my shoe won't 
 fit any other girl ! " 
 
 And she chattered away merrily as she ran pink 
 ribbons through the underclothing, sprayed it with per- 
 fumery and finally made a neat package of it, bound 
 with string. 
 
 During all this time Florian stood by and watched 
 her. She had never seemed so lovely to him as now, in 
 the midst of this feminine employment, and when the 
 package was ready and she looked up at him with a 
 smile, he clasped her tightly in his arms, pressed her 
 head against his shoulder, and kissed her on the fore- 
 head. 
 
 " Dear Ilonka ! Dear, good Ilonka ! " he whispered 
 over and over again. He could not say more, his heart 
 was too fulL 
 
 Somewhat surprised she freed herself from his clasp 
 and said with a smile of gentle sweetness, such as he 
 had never seen on her face before : " Oh, what you 
 mean, dear friend ? What you mean I am so good ? 
 Just common egotism of me hurts my heart so when 
 I must hear of sickness and want among comrades. 
 I feel uncomfortable when I must think: Ilonka has 
 every day good dinner and beautiful clothes, and poor 
 girl with much talent right near has nothing to eat 
 and nothing to wear on her body. I rather give few 
 shirts and few drawers than hurt my heart like that!
 
 An Indiscretion 211 
 
 Now I can be jolly again with good conscience. But 
 you are good good boy, dear friend, you are so good 
 I must call you by your first name. You are better 
 than whole lot of them. They are all no good. I 
 only swindle you about them because it was so funny, 
 you believed everything. I won't do that again, hon- 
 est!" 
 
 And she bent over and kissed his hand, and then 
 she laid her cheek against this hand and looked up so 
 kindly and honestly with her great black eyes, like a big 
 good-natured dog. 
 
 And Elorian could restrain himself no longer. His 
 heart glowed and his eyes filled with tears he could 
 not tell why 
 
 " O-o-o ! " said Ilonka in a tender strangely long 
 drawn-out tone; and then she put her arms about his 
 neck and kissed him. They were the first real love- 
 kisses he had ever received. His senses reeled; his 
 blood hammered in all his pulses, and his arm clasped 
 her so tightly that she at last freed herself from him 
 with a subdued cry of pain. 
 
 Twilight had long since closed in, but they did not 
 think of lighting the lamp. Neither did they think 
 of their music that evening. They sat together on 
 the sofa and whispered and caressed. He felt that he 
 loved her, and surely these kisses, these caresses 
 they could mean only that she too loved him ... 
 
 And when Florian at last went home the stars were 
 shining in the dark night sky, and the little city already 
 lay in peaceful, Philistine slumber. The gaunt youth 
 stood on the bridge over the Ilm with his silk hat in 
 his hand, his face turned upward to the stars. The 
 old Adam in him had been melted down; he had be-
 
 212 Morian Mayr 
 
 come a new man, a new man with wonderful, un- 
 dreamt-of feelings and a brand-new understanding for 
 the things of this world. 
 
 He wandered home by dark and lonely ways sup- 
 perless. Profane eyes should not seek to read in his 
 countenance the miracle that had been wrought upon 
 him this day. He laid himself down, and his bed 
 seemed to him a boat which bore him lightly over rolling 
 waves to an island of fairy loveliness, an island which 
 was ever before his eyes with its swaying palm-trees, 
 where birds of brilliant plumage nested, and which 
 sent its intoxicating perfumes far out over the sea, 
 and which his rocking boat could never reach.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 Ilonka, the Good 
 
 now to think that the next morning it should be 
 raining when Florian Mayr awoke rather later than 
 usual ! The stars had smiled so kindly upon his home- 
 ward way the night before, and now this sudden 
 change of weather! He had slept so beautifully, like 
 a child in its cradle, and now this awakening to grim 
 misgivings and bitter regret ! The scornful sky 
 seemed with its dashes of cold water to wish to remind 
 mankind that the springtime of unalloyed bliss was a 
 stupid invention of German poets ; and on Florian's bed, 
 as he stared with unbelieving eyes into the dun gray 
 twilight of the morning, sprawled a moral " Kater " of 
 extraordinary dimensions. He sat up, plunged all ten 
 fingers into his thin shock of hair, and hissed under his 
 breath: "Well, I am a low-down brute! That's just 
 what I am. What have you been doing, you misera- 
 ble wretch ? You've been flirting shamefully with a 
 noble-minded girl. What ought you to get for trifling 
 that way with her innocent affections? You ought to 
 be whipped in the open market place with a placard 
 hung around your neck : ' This is a swine.' Just 
 wait, you contemptible scoundrel ! " And with his 
 right hand he boxed his own ears while he punched him- 
 self in the ribs with his left. 
 
 By this time he was thoroughly awake. He crawled 
 out of bed and slunk to the looking glass. He re- 
 213
 
 214 Florian Mayr 
 
 garded his reflection with curious interest ; anyone could 
 tell from his face what a miserable sinner he was. Hm ! 
 So that was the way a false-hearted flirt, a trifler with 
 young affections, looked, was it? Somewhere on his 
 forehead there must be the brand of shame. He looked 
 for it in vain. In fact he was obliged to confess that 
 he was looking uncommonly brisk and fit. Well, at 
 all events others would somehow detect about him the 
 signs of his levity and unworthiness. How could he 
 enter his dear Master's presence now ! And above all, 
 she! How could he look her in the eyes to-day? 
 Well, in any case he now would show the courage of a 
 man. He would go to her and humbly ask her hand 
 in marriage. Perhaps it could all be quickly arranged 
 and then she would know him for an honest suitor and 
 no longer think him the mere trifler he had seemed. 
 He thought with terror of the expense, as he stood bend- 
 ing over the wash-basin, and as he pulled on his trous- 
 ers, a still more terrible thought overwhelmed him: 
 suppose the Master should be angry and send him away 
 wholly discredited so far as his profession was con- 
 cerned ! His career would then be ruined and a ma- 
 licious world would point the finger of scorn at 
 him. 
 
 He even felt a little shy about greeting his good 
 landlady when she brought him his breakfast and on the 
 way to the Hofgartnerei he held his umbrella down so 
 that no one should recognize him. 
 
 With guilty apprehensions he entered the Master's 
 working room. He was ten minutes late and so did 
 not meet with an exactly gracious reception. Liszt 
 was annoyed at some particularly shameless and pre- 
 sumptuous demand that had come in the morning mail ;
 
 Ilonka, the Good 215 
 
 but the conscience-stricken Florian thought of course 
 that that keen eye had already discovered his folly. 
 He was absent-minded all the morning and when he 
 had to play a duet from manuscript with the Master he 
 made so many blunders that Liszt frowned and warned 
 him to be more careful. 
 
 The morning was to end in still greater disaster. 
 
 " We are going to-morrow to the Loh concert in 
 Sondershausen," said Liszt when their labors were 
 ended. " Erdmannsdb'rffer is going to give my * Moun- 
 tain ' symphony. You may come with us, pchah. 
 Meanwhile you can go and find out which train is the 
 best" 
 
 " Oh, pardon me, Master, I know that already ; the 
 best train for Sondershausen leaves at 10:25," replied 
 Florian quickly. 
 
 Liszt shook his forefinger in the Italian way as a 
 sign of negation and said : " No, that train won't do 
 for me ; we can't take that." 
 
 " So ? " drawled Florian in a tone of surprise and in- 
 quiry. 
 
 And all at once, before he knew what had happened 
 to him, he received a well-aimed, resounding cuff on 
 his right cheek. As he had himself attended to the left 
 cheek earlier in the morning, his corporeal and spiritual 
 equilibrium was now most perfectly established, and 
 he was conscious, too, to his deep chagrin, that he had 
 deserved far more than a few slaps. But for the mo- 
 ment he was so frightened that he could not even say 
 " ouch ! " but only stare at his angry Master in open- 
 mouthed astonishment. 
 
 Liszt was stalking up and down the room with long 
 itrides and not once did he look at his disciplined pupil
 
 216 Morian Mayr 
 
 until the latter, almost in tears, was at last able to 
 stammer : " But, Master, what have I done ? " 
 
 Then Liszt went up behind Morian, still without 
 looking at him, and, patting his shoulder soothingly, 
 said, a little embarrassed : " There, there pchah 
 it wasn't meant so bad as all that, my son. I didn't 
 intend to hurt you, but people don't say * So ? ' to me. 
 Mind that ! " And with a princely wave of the hand 
 he dismissed the poor sinner. 
 
 Florian ran rapidly to the station. He had no over- 
 coat, only an umbrella to protect him from the pelting 
 rain. His wet trousers were clinging to his legs when 
 he reached the station just in time to catch the 10.25 
 train. He rode as far as Erfurt, made the most care- 
 ful inquiries at the station there concerning the connec- 
 tions with Sondershausen, and established the point be- 
 yond all doubt that it really was just as he had said : it 
 was not possible to get from Weimar to the little 
 Court town of Schwarzburg more quickly or more com- 
 fortably than by this train. He then strolled about the 
 city until the next train took him back. Wet and half 
 frozen, as he was, he rushed up to the Hofgartnerei, 
 found the Master at home, and announced, while his 
 face beamed with satisfaction, that the 10 :25 was really 
 without an equal. 
 
 " So ? " said Liszt in a long drawl. And then he 
 suddenly burst into a hearty laugh, for it occurred to 
 him that it was precisely the same syllable with the 
 same intonation that he had just punished so severely. 
 He stroked Florian's cheek affectionately, the cheek 
 which had so recently felt the whole weight of his 
 wrath, and said : " Very good, my son. Well done. 
 I was wrong ; forgive me. But in spite of all that, peo-
 
 Ilonka, the Good 217 
 
 pie must not say ( So ? ' to me, pchah ! You may come 
 and dine with me to-day, St. Florian," and he parted 
 from him with a cordial pressure of the hand. 
 
 Much elated Florian hastened home; while he was 
 changing his wet clothes he even whistled in his joy. 
 The blow from the Master and his own little excursion 
 had done him good and made him forget his moral 
 " katzen jammer." He had not even given a thought to 
 the Mikulska family. The pretty straw hat which he 
 had given little Olga the day before was lying on his 
 table when he returned but he had to think some time 
 before he could make out what it was doing there ; then 
 it dawned upon him that that inconceivably foolish 
 mother must have forbidden Olga to accept the gift. 
 It now occurred to him also that he had left that large 
 bundle of clothes at his Ilonka's yesterday. Oh, he 
 really was a very bad man, never thinking of anyone but 
 himself ! Would he now have to go and get those things 
 for the poor girl right away? Ilonka certainly could 
 not carry them, besides she might feel a little deli- 
 cate about coming to the house where he also lived. 
 He wrestled with the thought of going to her, until the 
 dinner hour arrived, and when he had acquired new 
 strength at Liszt's excellent board and had imbibed 
 a little courage from the good wines, he asked the Master 
 to be permitted to remain away from the " Swarm " 
 that afternoon, as he had neglected his practicing. The 
 fact was he did not trust himself to meet Ilonka again 
 in the presence of so many people after what had oc- 
 curred. He wished to give himself up to solitary medi- 
 tation and to collect himself; then in the evening 
 perhaps he would go to her and ask her to be his 
 bride.
 
 218 Florian Mayr 
 
 To the business of collecting himself he began to give 
 serious attention as soon as he had partly slept off the 
 agreeable effects of the dinner. He tried to form a 
 mental picture of married life with Ilonka Badacs, both 
 from the practical and from the ideal point of view. 
 With the best intention to see the light only, he settled 
 down to think; the result, however, was nothing but 
 empty shadow. She was accustomed to spend a great 
 deal of money on her toilette, her good dinners, and her 
 comfortable lodgings. It was altogether out of the 
 question for him to earn enough for both; it would be 
 necessary, therefore, for each to earn his own living 
 as heretofore. Since they were both pianists, they could 
 not very well go on concert tours together. A duet- 
 playing married couple would, it is true, be a novelty 
 but it would soon grow stale, if not downright ridicu- 
 lous. The probable outcome would be that Frau Mayr- 
 Badacs would be traveling through the south of Russia 
 while Herr Mayr was exploiting the western States of 
 the American Union. Under such circumstances there 
 could be no thought of a real married life. On the 
 other hand she could not be expected to give up her 
 brilliant career as a pianist to become the humble 
 wife of a moderately paid professor at the conservatory 
 of X-ville or a conductor of some amateur musical so- 
 ciety in Y-town. With her volatile gypsy blood and her 
 scintillating wit she was perfectly designed for a life 
 in which one day the champagne flows in streams and 
 on the next there is not enough money to pay the cob- 
 bler for half-soling shoes. She was able to live on her 
 debts and yet keep in the best of spirits; she knew 
 how to celebrate holidays, if only there were any holi- 
 days to celebrate! But of all the qualities necessary
 
 Ilonka, the Good 219 
 
 to make a home comfortable for a husband of the mid- 
 dle bourgeois class she possessed not a single one. And 
 when now, in conclusion, Florian put the question to 
 himself: did he really love this piquant beauty with 
 her amiable temperament, her versatile mind, her tal- 
 ent, and her goodness of heart, love her, that is, with 
 blind irremediable stupidity; love her exclusively and 
 for what they call eternity, he was obliged to confess 
 to his own surprise and mortification that he did not. 
 
 Helpless and the picture of misery, he was sitting 
 in the corner of his sofa, pulling away feebly at a six- 
 pfennig consolation cigar, when Mr. Crookes and his 
 two sons, armed with violin and cello, entered the room 
 and asked if he would have the kindness to play with 
 them. Florian could not have been more grateful to 
 them had they been angels from heaven ; he accepted the 
 proposal with enthusiasm. Let him at any cost not 
 have to think any more for the present. The rigid 
 Crookes was an excellent stick with which to kill time. 
 
 The stick took his seat in the corner of the sofa and 
 Florian went eagerly to work with the two youngsters. 
 He played without a murmur whatever they put on 
 the rack, even Mendelssohn ! It was all the same to 
 him; any noise would be a blessing. Whenever they 
 finished a piece, Mr. Crookes, senior, clapped his sinewy 
 hands together three times with great deliberation and, 
 sticking out his under jaw, cried: " O-o, bravo ! That 
 is very fine, indeed ! Now let us have Beethoven," or 
 " Would you mind a little Schumann ? " He beamed 
 with pride at his sons' accomplishments, whose playing 
 really was clean, in strict time, and with good tone, 
 though a little dry. Florian, too, came in for som 
 gracious praise for his clever sight-reading.
 
 220 Florian Mayr 
 
 Trios, sonatas, and concert pieces for violin or cello 
 followed one another in great variety, interrupted only 
 by very brief rests. To play so long and so steadily 
 was of itself a physical feat that commanded respect ; 
 but how anyone could sit there for that length of time 
 quietly listening, and that, too, in a small room, with- 
 out rising from his seat, without smoking, and without 
 having a drop to drink, that was to Florian a complete 
 mystery. This remarkable Englishman must have been 
 brought up in a rolling-mill or his ears could never 
 have endured such onslaughts. And there seemed to 
 be no limit to the power of his brain to digest music. 
 
 For two hours they had been playing all kinds of 
 music, classic, romantic, eclectic, and the shades of even- 
 ing were already closing in. Lamps and candles were 
 lighted; Mr. Crookes, senior, indignantly refused a 
 glass of beer; Florian drank two. The two Crookes 
 boys were refreshing themselves with water when there 
 came a knock at the door and in response to Florian' s 
 wondering " come in " Ilonka Badacs entered ! 
 
 Florian was so embarrassed that he turned first as 
 white as chalk and then a deep scarlet. Good Lord 
 above, .she had anticipated him and had come to re- 
 mind him that he had not yet asked her in due form 
 to be his! Surely she did not intend to make a scene 
 before these three long-legged Englishmen? She cer- 
 tainly looked as if she might for she had on a dark silk 
 gown with very little jewelry like a young widow after 
 the first year of mourning and unless he was badly mis- 
 taken her eyes looked as if she had been crying ! 
 
 Florian could not muster the courage to give her his 
 hand ; it was all he could do to say : " Good evening " 
 properly. He turned hastily to his guests and intro-
 
 Ilonka, the Good 221 
 
 duced "his honored colleague." The Englishmen 
 bowed with their customary national stiffness and did 
 not say a word. Fraulein Badacs on the other hand 
 went straight up to the elder Mr. Crookes, stretched 
 out her hand to him and with a powerful shake drew 
 the lean gentleman's whole length out of the sofa cor- 
 ner. 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Crookes," she cried in her rich, deep tones, 
 manifesting the highest gratification while a radiant 
 smile lighted up her pale face : " Oh, Mr. Crookes ! 
 I am glad so very, to meet you at last. I have heard 
 of you: that you are universal genius, apostle of all 
 possible schemes to make world better, spirit conjuror, 
 and father of two very famous musical boys. Isten! 
 What they are for handsome, dear young gentlemen, 
 real artist physiognomies, so sympathetic ! But no, 
 is true, sans phrase, Mr. Crookes ? " 
 
 The leathery Mr. Crookes actually blushed under this 
 flood of flattery and Florian thought to himself : " My 
 God, where does the woman get it all ? " 
 
 Without waiting to see if the universal genius, etc., 
 would find a few fitting words in reply to her extrava- 
 gant greeting, Ilonka went over to Florian and, taking 
 him by the sleeve, drew him over into the window 
 niche. "My dear Florian, I must say to you some- 
 thing," she whispered in a tone so loud that, had the 
 window been open, she could have been heard over in 
 the cemetery. And, heavens above, she called him 
 Florian without the slightest ceremony ! 
 
 Mr. Crookes murmured something about not wishing 
 to intrude any longer and the two lads obediently pre- 
 pared to pack up their instruments. But with one 
 voice both Florian and Ilonka loudly protested that they
 
 222 Florian Mayr 
 
 certainly must stay and not allow themselves to be dis- 
 turbed. 
 
 "We have absolutely no secrets together," added 
 Florian with a bold front, and quite naively Ilonka cor- 
 roborated this brazen lie. 
 
 Father Crookes subsided and the three Anglo-Saxons 
 resumed their seats. Then Ilonka told her anxiously 
 listening friend that she had just come from the Mikul- 
 skas. With much difficulty she had succeeded in per- 
 suading them to accept the gift; but the misery of 
 which this visit had given her a glimpse had so gripped 
 her heart that her eyes grew moist at the mere mention 
 of it. Helena was sick in bed, very sick; the cough 
 troubled her terribly and it would be some time before 
 there could be any thought of taking her to play to 
 Liszt, 
 
 Florian pressed Ilonka's hand gratefully, grate- 
 fully in the name of his protegees, whom in the tumult 
 of his mind he had entirely forgotten, and gratefully, 
 too, in his own name because she had not reminded him 
 of yesterday. Could it be possible that she was not 
 angry with him after all ? 
 
 There was some general conversation and then at 
 Ilonka's pressing request the musical entertainment of 
 the evening was resumed. The pretty Hungarian seated 
 herself upon the sofa and made Mr. Crookes sit by her 
 side. Thereupon the three performers plunged into a 
 trio by Brahms. 
 
 But Dick and Bob began to make blunders and get 
 out of time. Was Brahms too much for them or did 
 the presence of the pretty lady disturb them? Over 
 the piano hung a large mirror and when for a moment 
 Florian looked up from the notes he could see distinctly
 
 Ilonka, the Good 223 
 
 how Dick and Bob took turns in glancing over at the 
 sofa. Yes, and before long he had to witness some- 
 thing even worse than that! Mr. Crookes, the world- 
 reformer, athlete, total abstainer, and consumer of music 
 in bulk, began to flirt and Ilonka entered into the spirit 
 of it, alas, how thoroughly! There was an exchange 
 of glances, meaning smiles, an edging up, imperceptible 
 but sure, awful ! outrageous ! Finally Ilonka discov- 
 ered the child's hat upon the table and putting it on, 
 she coquetted before the grinning spirit-tapper and made 
 comical grimaces with amazing effrontery. 
 
 Florian could stand it no longer. The two lads had 
 lost their places altogether. With a furious discord he 
 stopped short and, wheeling around on the piano-stool, 
 he cried brusquely : " Well, if we'd rather play mas- 
 querade than Brahms I don't care but it's got to be one 
 or the other." 
 
 " Oh, go along, dear friend," pouted Ilonka, " why 
 do you want to be so disagreeable ? You played so 
 splendidly, everything ran and sprang about like in 
 ant hill. Was own composition, please? Very in- 
 teresting. Indeed, was by Brahms ? Very famous 
 man, but I not like him. Oh, my dear friends, do 
 you know what? Have a splendid idea! Let's have 
 a lark ! Make jolly supper among us bachelors. Each 
 pay a mark for cold meats and Mr. Crookes pay for 
 the drinks. I go buy things. Splendid idea ! " 
 
 The proposition met with enthusiastic approval, espe- 
 cially from Mr. Crookes who, however, wished to exclude 
 his two boys from the festival. A decisive word from 
 Ilonka sufficed to remove his objections to the great 
 delight of the two beaming young gentlemen. She 
 then asked someone to go with her to help carry her
 
 224 Florian Mayr 
 
 purchases and, as all four gentlemen were equally 
 zealous in offering their services, she finally let all four 
 accompany her in order that none of them should feel 
 neglected. In front of the door in the softly falling 
 rain there still stood the yellow droschke in which Ilonka 
 had arrived nearly an hour before. She had com- 
 pletely forgotten that she had told the driver to wait. 
 All five of them got into the rattle-box and at the best 
 shops in town they bought cold meats, all kinds of deli- 
 cacies, as well as several bottles of wine and cham- 
 pagne. As his share of the expenses Florian Mayr 
 paid one mark, the other thirty-two marks including the 
 very expensive droschke Mr. Crookes paid without turn- 
 ing a hair. As a reward for this he was permitted to 
 take a few bottles of seltzer with him for Dick and Bob. 
 Once home again Ilonka, assisted by the friendly 
 landlady, laid the table and arranged the good things 
 they had bought with so much skill that in spite of the 
 simple service the table presented an attractive ap- 
 pearance. Then all sat down to the dainty feast. It 
 was astonishing to see by how simple a process Mr. 
 Crookes squared himself with his vegetarian conscience : 
 he declared ham to be the very flower of the pig and 
 hence it belonged to the realm of plants ; caviar was a 
 vegetable comparable to young peas, and lobster salad, 
 as its name showed, merely a salad. It was only with 
 the sausage that, as a genuine Englishman, he could not 
 make friends. Sausage, he maintained, was and ever 
 must be nothing but stuffed gut and, therefore, no fit 
 food for cultivated Europeans. Bob and Dick giggled 
 incessantly. They had never seen their governor in 
 such high spirits. They gave themselves up to the 
 thorough enjoyment of the meat and, as the seltzer did
 
 Honka, the Good 225 
 
 not fit in with this at all, Ilonka's art very soon turned 
 the water into wine. Their father had declared that 
 the juice of the grape was a decidedly wholesome and 
 innocent beverage and the devil of the alcohol that had 
 slipped in during fermentation a Christian man must 
 overcome by his own strength of mind. In the case of 
 his boys, however, he said the flesh was still too weak 
 for him to think of exposing them to so unequal an 
 encounter. Fraulein Badacs hypocritically assented 
 to this but slyly shoved her glass of wine over to 
 Dick's place and, taking his seltzer, drank to his father, 
 while the quick-witted young man indulged himself in 
 her wine. But Bob fell on his feet, too. He com- 
 prehended the trick and pushed his glass of carbonated 
 water towards his brother who at a favorable oppor- 
 tunity conveyed it to the Fraulein whence it returned 
 by the same route transformed into wine. The effect 
 of the unaccustomed poison was soon evident in the two 
 lads. They began to take part in the conversation with 
 less and less constraint; they became quite confidential 
 with Florian and gave freer and freer expression to their 
 admiration of the fair Hungarian. Finally they vol- 
 unteered to sing all sorts of English, Irish, and Scotch 
 folk-songs. That was the signal for the beginning of 
 a highly original concert. The two boys sang their 
 songs really very well, accompanied themselves on the 
 piano; and in the interludes imitated the skirl of the 
 bagpipe. Even Mr. Crookes, senior, condescended to 
 vary the entertainment by juggling with the plates and 
 glasses. Apparently he was a little out of practice 
 or was it the result of too copious draughts of cham- 
 pagne ? At all events, a notable heap of broken glass 
 and crockery soon covered the field of his artistic ac-
 
 226 Florian Mayr 
 
 tivity. When the ruins had been removed, Fraulein 
 Badacs was pressed to do something in her turn. She 
 sat down at the piano and played a fiery csardas; the 
 dash of the thing got into the feet of the listeners so 
 that they sprang up as if electrified and it was the 
 funniest thing to see them trying to dance in that little 
 room. All at once Ilonka stopped playing and, lean- 
 ing against one of the posts of the canopied bed, clasped 
 her hands behind her head and began to sing. She had 
 an untrained voice of some natural beauty but the re- 
 pressed passion of her Hungarian songs, full of won- 
 derful yearning, she knew how to bring out most thril- 
 lingly. And how beautiful she was as she stood there 
 in that attitude of statuesque repose, her large dark 
 eyes looking upward with an expression of melancholy ! 
 Florian Mayr was the only one who throughout the 
 evening had been unable to enter fully into the taerry 
 mood of the party. He had observed with increasing 
 displeasure Ilonka's behavior towards the three Eng- 
 lishmen. That she simply wanted to have her fun 
 with the elder Crookes was of course evident but, 
 thought Florian, that was no reason for flirting with 
 him so violently. And why she should want to turn 
 the heads of these good harmless lads, stroking their 
 cheeks and letting them cover her bare arms with kisses 
 up to the elbow, that he could not understand at all. 
 She was now in a way his fiancee, at least his sweet- 
 heart, how could she carry on so unceremoniously in 
 his presence! Florian was jealous. And now, stand- 
 ing there and singing, she stirred his heart mightily 
 with her yearning tones. The blood rushed to his head ; 
 he sat down at the table and dug his two fists into his 
 eyes to master his emotion. Father in heaven, he did
 
 Ilonka, the Good 227 
 
 love this fascinating coquette after all ! He felt an un- 
 controllable impulse to throw the three Englishmen out 
 and then, as a punishment for the pangs of jealousy 
 she had made him suffer, smother his beautiful beloved 
 in his arms. 
 
 Ilonka had finished. She unclasped her hands, 
 stretched herself, and smiled. Mr. Crookes murmured 
 quite softly to himself : " Very fine, indeed !" The 
 two youngsters pressed her hand in silence and Florian 
 remained in his singular attitude at the table without 
 stirring. For a few seconds all was still in the room, 
 then from the other side of the driveway were heard 
 distinctly the terrible coughing of the consumptive 
 Polish girl and the loud weeping and wailing of her 
 mother and sister. 
 
 Ilonka listened for a moment attentively ; then, strik- 
 ing her forehead, she said : " Oh, shame on us ! It's 
 mean! Here we eat and drink and make merry and 
 quite forget poor little sick girl. Go, Florian, you must 
 be ashamed, too. We'll take little bottle of champagne 
 over to her, champagne is good for chest and for 
 weakness and, well, fact is, champagne is for everything 
 good." Therewith she seized a half emptied cham- 
 pagne bottle, made a comprehensive survey of the table, 
 and put the remains of the ham and the caviar on a 
 plate. She made a sign to Florian and they left the 
 room together. 
 
 When they entered the Mikulskas' room a dreadful 
 sight met their eyes. Helena was leaning back limp in 
 an old wicker chair and her bosom, the arm of the chair, 
 and the floor at her feet were stained with bright red 
 blood. Little Olga stood at her sister's side, trembling 
 and crying; she held a sponge in her hand with which
 
 228 Florian Mayr 
 
 she had wiped away the blood from chin and lips ; the 
 mother, moaning helplessly, crouched in a chair near 
 the fainting girl and wrung her hands and called upon 
 the saints. 
 
 Honka shuddered at the awful sight and for a few 
 seconds was obliged to close her eyes. Florian quickly 
 took the bottle and plate from her hand until she had 
 recovered from her momentary faintness. 
 
 "That's bad!" he whispered to her. "That's a 
 hemorrhage; the poor child will scarcely survive that. 
 I'll go for a doctor. You stay here and see that Helena 
 is at least undressed and put to bed. And cold com- 
 presses on her chest, do you hear ? " He squeezed her 
 hand encouragingly and rushed away. He ran up to 
 his room to get his hat and umbrella, informed the 
 Crookes that the festivities must end, and dashed off at 
 the top of his speed for the nearest physician. 
 
 It was almost midnight when Florian reentered the 
 lodgings of the Mikulskas with the doctor whom he 
 had been obliged to track to his favorite restaurant. 
 Honka meanwhile had made herself useful. The sick 
 girl lay in bed swathed in cold bandages for which the 
 ice from the champagne supper came in most handy. 
 The floor and the wicker chair had been cleaned and 
 mother Mikulska, having attended to this, did the best 
 thing she could do : she held her tongue and let Honka 
 have her way. Little Olga, quite tired out, had fallen 
 asleep as soon as she had satisfied her greedy hunger 
 with the remains of the food that had been intended for 
 her sister. In the excitement over the violent coughing 
 fit which had tormented Helena for several hours, the 
 mother had forgotten all about supper. The physician 
 listened at Helena's lungs and sounded her pitifully
 
 Ilonka, the Good 229 
 
 emaciated body most carefully. He came to the con- 
 clusion that, considering her general weakness, the pa- 
 tient could scarcely be expected to recover. A repeti- 
 tion of the hemorrhage would be certain death. In this 
 advanced stage of consumption little dependence could 
 be put upon the ordinary remedies to prevent the cough 
 irritation. The slightest physical exertion or even men- 
 tal excitement might render all precautions futile and 
 the stupidity of the mother who might cause this ex- 
 citement by her moaning and wailing was one of the 
 greatest dangers the daughter had to fear. It was, 
 therefore, agreed that the mother should not be told 
 the whole truth but that it should be thoroughly im- 
 pressed upon her that she must obey implicitly the di- 
 rections of the physician and the two volunteer nurses. 
 
 When the physician had gone, Florian and Ilonka 
 disputed in noble emulation which of them should un- 
 dertake the first watch. Florian yielded finally, for 
 Ilonka insisted that she was still very wide awake, and 
 promised to wake him as soon as she felt sleepy. He 
 pressed her hand warmly and looked tenderly into her 
 eyes as he said good night. His heart was so full of 
 what he still had to say to her but this was not exactly 
 the right time to say it, and so with a sigh he post- 
 poned it till the morrow and crossed to his little room. 
 He threw himself half dressed upon his bed and was 
 soon fast asleep. 
 
 When he awoke the sky was already gray. In the 
 dim light of dawn he recognized his beloved, who stood 
 by his bedside and held him tightly by the arm. 
 
 " Dear friend," said Ilonka, smiling feebly, " you do 
 sleep soundly, don't you ? Don't be angry because I 
 shook you, I'm so very tired. Come, be good. Let
 
 230 Florian Mayr 
 
 me sleep some. It's all 'tended to over there. Poor 
 girl sleeps very soft." 
 
 At last Florian comprehended what was required of 
 him. He rubbed his eyes again and then sprang reso- 
 lutely to his feet. As soon as his place was vacated, 
 Ilonka sat down on the bed, loosened her clothes, un- 
 buttoned all the buttons of her waist with one jerk, and 
 stretched herself out with a sigh of relief. Her corsets 
 she had already taken off in the room over the way. 
 Her eyes closed instantly and she began to breathe 
 heavily. 
 
 Florian stood in his shirt-sleeves in the middle of the 
 room, combing his long hair with his fingers and staring 
 at the bed. There was a strangely tender feeling in 
 his heart. After his frivolous behavior of yesterday, 
 there they now were without any foolish shyness, bound 
 together in a good deed of neighborly love, intimate and 
 familiar, like nothing so much as a married couple on 
 the best of terms. Had not this night, strictly speak- 
 ing, brought them closer together than the fleeting ec- 
 stasy of that Arcadian hour ? He really loved her now 
 and felt sure the light of returning day would not bring 
 him another moral " katzen jammer," if he should put 
 the momentous question at once. Quickly resolved, he 
 knelt down at her head, gently brushed her disheveled 
 locks from her brow, kissed her, and whispered : " Do 
 you hear me, my treasure ? " 
 
 She nodded her head and he heard her mutter some- 
 thing impatiently. 
 
 " Tell me, you're not angry with me about yester- 
 day, are you ? " he continued in a whisper, undismayed. 
 But with a grunt of annoyance she made a move as if to 
 turn her back on him; he put his arm around her to
 
 Ilonka, the Good 231 
 
 hold her fast and went on earnestly : " No, now look 
 here, dearest, you mustn't think I was fooling. See, 
 'tisn't because I like you just a little ; I I love you 
 so, I'm a perfect fool about you, honest, 'pon my 
 soul, I love you so, I'd like nothing better than to 
 have you for my own dear little wife ! " 
 
 At this she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at 
 him in astonishment. She gave a quick laugh. " Ti 
 vagy hobortos!" she said slowly and distinctly, at the 
 same time tapping him on his chest with her forefinger. 
 
 Florian held her hand tight and kissed it. " Ah, 
 come now, say it in German," he whispered with emo- 
 tion. " Does that mean : ' I love you ? ' " 
 
 In spite of her overwhelming sleepiness, Ilonka had 
 to laugh aloud. " Ho, is splendid ! " she giggled, strok- 
 ing his head. " No, dear friend, does not mean : ' I 
 love you,' that means : * You are crazy ! ' " 
 
 Florian sprang to his feet, deeply hurt, and cried: 
 " Oh, don't, you ought to be ashamed, Ilonka ! Is that 
 a way, when I mean it honest and, ahem, do you 
 think I'm crazy because I want to marry you ? " 
 
 " Of course, very crazy ! " replied Ilonka calmly. 
 " Delights me awfully if you like me. I like you, too, 
 because you are dear good fellow. But when I marry,, 
 must be Count, very rich and very, very, immensely 
 stupid ! Ou-ou-ah-ah-ah-oah." 
 
 After this monstrously long yawn she closed her eyes 
 and rolled over on the other side. 
 
 For some little time Florian stood with his fists 
 doubled up, motionless and frowning darkly. Her 
 deep regular breathing soon assured him that his way- 
 ward darling had gone to sleep. " Herrgottheiliges- 
 Tcreuzdonnerwetter! Will anyone ever understand
 
 232 Florian Mayr 
 
 womenfolk ! " lie exclaimed, gnashing his teeth angrily. 
 Then he put on his coat and stole on tiptoe from the 
 room. It was in no very philanthropic mood that he 
 now went to play the good Samaritan. 
 
 All three Mikulskas were asleep. -One might have 
 thought that Helena was dead, she lay there so pale and 
 still ; only a low rattle in her chest showed that she still 
 breathed and still needed the closest care. As soon as 
 it was day Florian went to his landlady's people to re- 
 late to them the events of the night. He had his break- 
 fast brought over to the Mikulskas' so that Ilonka might 
 have her sleep out in peace. The good landlady ex- 
 pressed her willingness to take his place in helping the 
 incompetent Frau Mikulska ; Florian was thus enabled 
 with some degree of confidence to go to Liszt at the 
 usual hour. 
 
 He told the Master what had happened and Liszt 
 offered to do for the poor sick girl all that money could 
 do. Too soon he was to be taken at his word for Helena 
 Mikulska died less than forty-eight hours later in conse- 
 quence of a second hemorrhage. Liszt himself accom- 
 panied the priest who administered the viaticum, prayed 
 with her family, and held for a long time the bony 
 hands of the dying girl, which for so many years had 
 worn themselves out in order that some day she might 
 exhibit her art to him. But she had already lost con- 
 sciousness ; the satisfaction of knowing that the Mas- 
 ter, whom she had humbly worshipped, had given her the 
 last pressure of the hand could no longer glorify for her 
 the parting from this world, poor little martyr to her 
 art. 
 
 A simple funeral was arranged for at Liszt's ex- 
 pense, but simple though it was, in Protestant Weimar
 
 Honka, the Good 233 
 
 it caused something of a sensation by reason of its 
 Catholic display. The Master himself was present and 
 no small number of his pupils, besides a goodly group 
 of the curious. 
 
 Florian as a matter of course had looked after all the 
 details of the funeral, but Fraulein Badacs also re- 
 mained faithful to the poor invalid to the last. Dur- 
 ing all the days up to the time of the burial, Florian 
 had scrupulously avoided discussing with Ilonka any- 
 thing that had no direct reference to their charge. He 
 was still angry with her on account of the unpleasant 
 language with which, between laughing and even yawn- 
 ing, she had repulsed his suit. And yet he was quite 
 unable to tear from his soul his honest love for her, 
 which struck deeper root from hour to hour as he 
 watched the good girl performing her difficult self-im- 
 posed duties, so faithfully and skilfully at the sick 
 girl's side. 
 
 "After all, she's really a splendid woman," said 
 Florian more than once by day and by night " The 
 devil knows why I have to be called crazy just because 
 I want her for my wife ! " On the evening after the 
 burial he resolved to have a quiet talk with his beloved 
 and not allow himself to be put off by any stupid phrase. 
 He would make her show her colors honestly. 
 
 At seven that evening Florian rang at Fraulein 
 Badacs' door. The Fraulein was not at home, ex- 
 plained the landlady in a choice Saxon dialect. 
 
 " Then, will you please tell her that I'll call again 
 this evening." 
 
 " Well, now, you see, that won't do any good," said 
 the woman with an embarrassed smile. " Fraulein has 
 gone away, on a journey."
 
 234 Florian Mayr 
 
 " A journey ! Where to ? " 
 
 " Well, now, you see, I don't know myself. But it 
 isn't likely she's gone very far." 
 
 "Who went with her?" Florian himself did not 
 quite know how he came to ask such a question but now 
 that it was out he awaited the answer with fear and 
 trembling. 
 
 The landlady smiled shamefacedly, rubbed her bare 
 red arm with her apron, and said : " Well, now, you 
 see, it must be Herr von Oettern, she's been going 
 with him a long time." 
 
 By the next afternoon everyone of the " Swarm " 
 could have told the good Florian that Ilonka Badacs 
 had gone on a little tour of recreation with the irresisti- 
 ble Jean d'Oettern, the same amiable Jean d'Oettern 
 whom the headwaiter of the ll Erbprinz " with the in- 
 finitely knowing smile had represented to be the fair 
 Hungarian's masseur.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 Wagalaweia 
 
 DURING the next few days Pierian Mayr went about 
 in Weimar like a roaring lion seeking whom he might 
 devour. Outwardly, to be sure, he did not roar, but 
 all the more so within, and like a Bavarian lion too. 
 Hitherto he had found no place in his hardworking life 
 for women, and now his first experience with that species 
 of mankind had to turn out like this ! He felt an un- 
 governable desire to assault somebody, and, as it was 
 unfortunately not strict etiquette to lay hands upon 
 ladies, Herr Jean d'Oettern seemed to him to be the 
 next best candidate. He called twice a day, rain or 
 shine, at the studio, and also at the rooms of the elegant 
 young painter, always armed with a dubious looking 
 walking-stick; but the gentleman was out of town and 
 remained so, and no one knew whither he had gone or 
 when he intended to return. 
 
 As Florian was obliged to renounce for the time be- 
 ing the luxury of thrashing somebody, he endeavored 
 at least to make up for it by venting his spleen upon 
 all the members of the " Swarm " whom he disliked. 
 He was no longer so nai've as he had been during the 
 first days of his residence in Weimar, when he readily 
 accepted for good coin everything that his genial com- 
 panions told him about themselves or others. 
 
 His eyes had been opened also concerning Ilonka's 
 celebrated round table of all the virtues, the members 
 235
 
 236 Florian Mayr 
 
 of which were the greatest wind-bags and most im- 
 pudent hussies of all, and the stories concerning the 
 illustrious descent, fabulous wealth, and mighty genius 
 of the different members had proved to be the purest 
 fiction. So long as he still wandered amongst these 
 sinners as the " guileless fool " he was so indignant at 
 all the irregular relationships which bound together 
 male and female, as well as the running into debt and 
 other outward signs of the abject recklessness of their 
 lives, that he felt like warning his beloved Master from 
 consorting with such black sheep and casting the whole 
 unclean company out of the temple; but since he him- 
 self had tasted of the tree of knowledge, he had quietly 
 got rid of the heavy load of stones which he had hitherto 
 carried about in his pockets to cast at his depraved fel- 
 low mortals, and, as callow youth is ever wont to gen- 
 eralize upon its wee bit of knowledge and remodel in 
 the twinkling of an eye its principles accordingly, so 
 now the deeply injured Florian threw the responsibility 
 for all the short-comings of this earthly life upon the 
 " devil's brood of woman-kind." 
 
 In particular there was a pair of piano-msenads, who 
 had already tried Liszt's patience to the utmost and 
 who regarded each other with a jealousy that was 
 wholly ridiculous. Miss Julia Robertson charged 
 Fraulein Dorette Schonflies with having secured the 
 favor of the great Master by her underhand intriguing, 
 and of having alienated his affections from her, 
 while Fraulein Schonflies reported everywhere that 
 Miss Robertson had conducted herself towards the old 
 gentleman with such bold importunity that he had re- 
 fused to see her except at his general receptions. The 
 two young ladies spied upon each other at every step
 
 Wagalaweia 237 
 
 and exchanged the most edifying compliments when- 
 ever they met. Miss Eobertson threatened to box 
 Fraulein Schonflies' ears publicly, if the latter should 
 ever again dare to remain behind closed doors with the 
 Master, and Fraulein Schb'nflies in her turn prophe- 
 sied to Miss Eobertson that she would be sent home 
 post-haste before she knew it. 
 
 Fraulein Schonflies was in the habit of calling at the 
 Hofgartnerei, at least every second day at an hour 
 when Liszt received only his intimate friends, and of 
 asking him to see her alone. In this she was successful 
 once in a fortnight at most, for she was an extremely 
 poor pianist and Liszt must have had nothing else to 
 do if he had been willing to grant her private lessons. 
 Her particular affectation was to act like a coquettish 
 young girl, although she would never see twenty-five 
 again. She had her dresses cut as short as possible and 
 wore long blond braids tied with bows. Her childish 
 behavior was in perfect keeping with her manner of 
 dress, and amused Liszt greatly if he happened to be 
 in the right mood. He needed only to pat her cheeks 
 and she at once began her bashful school-girl comedy 
 as promptly as a trained poodle does his tricks at his 
 master's command. When Fraulein Schonflies was not 
 received she found all sorts of excuses for lingering as 
 long as possible in the Hofgartnerei to gossip with the 
 secretary or with Pauline, the housekeeper, in order 
 to give the impression that she had spent the whole time 
 with Liszt; for her greatest pleasure consisted in rous- 
 ing the envy of her companions. Miss Eobertson on 
 the other hand had higher aims. Even if she could 
 not be a second Countess d'Agoult or a Princess Witt- 
 genstein, she would at least leave her name to posterity
 
 238 Florian Mayr 
 
 as Liszt's last confidante, as the enlightened cherisher 
 of his last plans and thoughts. She was an energetic 
 person but unfortunately not sympathetic to the Mas- 
 ter, and he entertained no idea whatever of taking per- 
 sonal advantage of her enthusiastic devotion. He was 
 not even aware how she dogged his every step and 
 watched with ridiculous jealousy every expression of 
 favor which he showed to other young ladies. 
 
 To these two interesting young persons Florian Mayr 
 now determined to turn his affectionate attention. 
 Meeting Fraulein Schonflies one day in the reception- 
 room when Liszt was at work he requested her politely 
 but firmly to have the goodness to take her departure 
 promptly, and not to appear again until the Master 
 sent her word that he wished to see her ; and when she 
 began with a whining voice to make objections, he 
 seized her firmly by the wrist and led her out of the room. 
 Once outside she began to weep and wail aloud in order 
 if possible to attract Liszt's attention, and Florian was 
 obliged to escort her downstairs with gentle force. 
 
 A burst of derisive laughter greeted them when they 
 arrived in the corridor below. It came from Miss 
 Robertson, who had been as usual lying in wait in or- 
 der to establish, watch in hand, the length of time her 
 enemy remained with the Master. 
 
 Florian at once let Fraulein Schonflies go and turned 
 his attention to Miss Robertson, whom he favored with 
 several compliments that evidently found enthusiastic 
 applause on the part of Fraulein Dorette, for she broke 
 into a malicious giggle. The two ladies then turned 
 their attention to each other. 
 
 The result was a most delightful screaming and
 
 Wagalaweia 239 
 
 shrieking, into the midst of which Florian in vain 
 launched his most select explosives, so that finally there 
 was nothing else to be done but to drag Julia to the 
 garden door and Dorette to the street door and hasten 
 their exits with vigorous shoves. The scene evidently 
 had its witnesses for on the same evening all Weimar 
 was talking about it, and Miss Eobertson had bought 
 a revolver at the nearest shop, and openly threatened to 
 shoot Fraulein Schonflies, Herr Mayr and everybody 
 else who should dare to stand in her way. 
 
 It goes almost without saying that Florian Mayr, 
 as the latest favorite, was not particularly popular with 
 the other Lisztites. Those who accomplished very lit- 
 tle themselves excepting in conceit were the most en- 
 vious of his privileged position ; but as he bore himself 
 towards them in no way arrogantly, and was pleasant 
 enough on the whole, though reserved, towards his col- 
 leagues, the slanders of the envious had hitherto not 
 been able to harm him. The incident with the two im- 
 portunate young women was naturally hailed with joy 
 by the whole pack of malicious back-biters, and the mis- 
 understood ones of smaller caliber, who pretended to 
 have been slighted, now rose with one accord and con- 
 spired against the over-weening favorite, who in their 
 opinion was to blame that they were only received by 
 the Master in the general " Swarm " and were not al- 
 lowed the privilege of private lessons. Miss Robertson 
 and Fraulein Schonflies, who had hitherto enjoyed by 
 no means a great measure of popularity, suddenly 
 found themselves in possession of a regiment of de- 
 voted friends and eager champions of their innocence. 
 The enmity of the two injured ladies continued to
 
 240 Morian Mayr 
 
 exist in spite of this, for there was neither a Robert- 
 son party nor a Schonflies party but only one, an anti- 
 Mayr party. 
 
 The conspirators resolved in the first place to 
 encourage by every means in their power the antipathy 
 to Florian Mayr amongst all Liszt pupils as well as in 
 outside circles of society, and search out eagerly for 
 dark spots in his present and past private life in order 
 to accuse him to the Master with success when the op- 
 portunity offered. 
 
 But upon the same day on which Florian found two 
 such extremely worthy victims of his wrath, fortune was 
 to smile upon him once more. As he called once 
 again towards evening accompanied by his murderous 
 walking-stick at the studio of Herr von Oettern, he 
 heard at last the words, " Come in ! " His heart beat 
 faster. " Ha, the hour of vengeance had struck ! " 
 Crossing the threshold with resolute step, he found him- 
 self face to face with the celebrated Don Juan 
 d' Oettern. 
 
 A devilish handsome fellow he was indeed ; even the 
 tongue of envy had to acknowledge that. The slen- 
 der, sinuous figure, so elegantly and yet so comfortably 
 dressed, the narrow head, golden blond hair and silky 
 mustache, the finely chiseled and yet in no way ef- 
 feminate face with its wide-awake eyes, the small well 
 cared for hands it was really no wonder that the un- 
 conventional young ladies of the Weimar musical world 
 fell in love with him by scores. But this rational con- 
 sideration would by no means have restrained the de- 
 termined Florian from falling upon Jean d'Oettern 
 with his fence-rail, after a short but luminous introduc- 
 tion, had unfortunately a second gentleman not been
 
 Wagalaweia 241 
 
 present. This gentleman went towards Florian Mayr 
 with outstretched hands before he had time to pay his 
 compliments to Herr von Oettern, and exclaimed gayly, 
 "Well, well, what's this? My dear Herr Mayr! So 
 you have finally landed in Weimar too ! " and cleverly 
 imitating Liszt's tone of voice, he added, " pchah ! 
 bravo ! " Florian was thrown a little off his equipoise 
 by this unforeseen interruption of his programme. 
 With his silk hat in one hand and his big stick in the 
 other he stared dubiously at the tall man with the auburn 
 beard, and this gentleman was obliged to remind him 
 that they had spent a very merry night together after 
 the performance of Peter Gais's Satan before he was 
 conscious that he stood in the presence of Baron von 
 Eied. "Well, I see, you've become good friends al- 
 ready," remarked the baron after the introduction, nod- 
 ding towards Florian who still stood in an attitude of 
 embarrassment. 
 
 " Friends ? I beg pardon, that's hardly the case, 
 I'm very sorry to say," replied Herr von Oettern, with 
 a slightly ironical smile, as it seemed to Florian. " I 
 know Herr Mayr by sight and of course par 
 renommee but then you know Coryphaeus of the 
 new season. Enfant gate. Of course! But I 
 haven't yet had the honor of a visit. Won't you lay 
 aside your things, Herr Mayr ? " 
 
 With that he took Florian's hat and stick out of his 
 hand to carry them to the coat-rack near the iron stove. 
 The gnarled walking-stick attracted his attention. He 
 examined it, held it up to the light, tried a few passes 
 through the air with it and then remarked, addressing 
 both of his callers, " Very extraordinary stick. Ger- 
 man grape-vine, isn't it ? Ah, parbleu, c'est une drole
 
 242 Florian Mayr 
 
 de canne! 1830-50! Are you going to introduce that 
 fashion again ? Why not ? Bravo ! " 
 
 In this simple manner Florian found himself dis- 
 armed. It would certainly not do to take the stick out 
 of Oettern's hands again and say, " No, excuse me, my 
 dear fellow, not in order to introduce the fashion of 
 1830 but in order to give you a good thrashing, that's 
 the reason I have brought it along ! " Quite true, but 
 what did he want here then, if he had given up all idea 
 of the thrashing ? He was not yet advanced enough in 
 savoir-faire to have the assurance to make calls upon 
 celebrities without any introduction whatever. But 
 Herr von Oettern seemed to be accustomed to visits of 
 that kind, for he made no inquiries concerning the ob- 
 ject of Florian's calL 
 
 It was really a happy chance that had led Baron 
 von Hied hither. He started a conversation which at 
 once relieved Florian from his embarrassment. They 
 spoke about musical life in Berlin, and proceeded to a 
 general consideration of the development of the mod- 
 ern German school, and of the relation of this new de- 
 velopment to that of the other arts. It was Baron von 
 Ried who sketched the general outlines of the discus- 
 sion, and threw out the theoretical opinions, while Herr 
 von Oettern interjected all manner of striking observa- 
 tions and illustrative anecdotes. He had been every- 
 where, he had seen and heard well nigh everything of 
 importance that had taken place in the arts, was per- 
 sonally acquainted with a great number of modern celeb- 
 rities and was extremely well informed, particularly 
 in regard to French art and literature, having been 
 educated for the most part in Paris where he had be- 
 come quite at home.
 
 Wagalaweia 243 
 
 Florian found it a little difficult at first to follow 
 his peculiar, spasmodic, sometimes almost stuttering 
 and at the same time rapid manner of speech. He 
 often left a sentence quite unfinished and suggested the 
 conclusion only by a word or by a gesture, accompanied 
 by an explanatory exclamation. Sometimes he seemed 
 to stop listening entirely and would go to the picture 
 which he happened to be painting and add a few bold 
 strokes or he would run to the piano and play, without 
 sitting down, a few measures of Wagner, Liszt, or 
 Chopin with oddly eccentric rhythm but always bring- 
 ing out the characteristic figure. The whole literature 
 of modern music lay heaped in great piles upon the 
 piano and upon its costly embroidered silk cover. 
 
 The man and his environment fitted together wonder- 
 fully. His studio was a small museum of treasures of 
 art and literature from the period of Louis XV. to that 
 of the Empire. Over the false fire-place, upon the 
 shelf of which stood a pair of large Chinese vases with 
 dry bamboo fronds, hung a magnificent Gobelin cov- 
 ering nearly the entire wall. On the other walls hung 
 pictures by Jean d'Oettern himself, as well as older 
 paintings, mostly of the French school, amongst them 
 several of the most celebrated masters. The furniture 
 was Louis XVI. and Empire. Book-cases of dark 
 mahogany with bronze mountings were filled with the 
 most select works of French literature of the eighteenth 
 century, amongst them a large number of costly illus- 
 trated works and rarities, particularly in the field of 
 litterature gala/nie, all in old de luxe bindings. Upon 
 a revolving table stood a glass case containing all kinds 
 of costly things, such as cut stones, cameos, enameled 
 boxes, painted fans, coins and the like, and upon tables,
 
 244 Florian Mayr 
 
 etageres and stands and upon velvet mats in shallow 
 glass cases, a lot of other smaller articles of miniature 
 art. The furniture, as well as the numerous comforta- 
 ble cushions, were upholstered in real old silks, while 
 the other articles of furniture, especially a large writ- 
 ing-desk, were of mahogany with bronze mountings in 
 the Empire style. All the other colors were har- 
 moniously subdued, with nowhere a parvenu striving 
 after effect These rare things were intended to de- 
 light the hearts of connoisseurs and not to catch the eye 
 of indifferent gapers by their evident costliness. 
 
 The spirit of comprehensive knowledge which the 
 room breathed was relieved of its dusty heaviness by 
 artistic gayety, or one might also say the spirit of 
 frivolity, ennobled by exquisite taste. During the con- 
 versation Florian several times changed his seat in or- 
 der to examine these beautiful things and Herr von 
 Oettern most obligingly got out every article which he 
 saw Florian looking at and favored him with a de- 
 scription of it. It was said of Herr von Oettern in 
 Weimar that even the most elegant and exclusive ladies 
 were unable to resist him, if they had passed but one 
 half hour in his studio and looked through his books 
 with him, and had studied attentively certain of his 
 miniature paintings on porcelain and ivory. Of course 
 that was the clumsiest kind of calumny, for Jean d' Oet- 
 tern was much too great an enemy of coarse scandal, 
 as well as of its uncomfortable and dramatic conse- 
 quences, ever to approach a representative of those cir- 
 cles in which ladies without ties are not conceivable. 
 But although the feelings of an elegant young lady were 
 unfamiliar to no one so much as to our honest Florian 
 Mayr, nevertheless he, too, felt in his own heart the ir-
 
 Wagalaweia 245 
 
 resistibleness of tlie young painter. He experienced 
 quite the same uneasiness as any simple mortal feels 
 who dines for the first time at the table of a sovereign, 
 but with the difference that in this case the uneasiness 
 was mixed with a fair portion of aesthetic enjoyment 
 of the delicacies that were on this gentleman's table. 
 
 Curiously enough, he felt no such uneasiness with 
 Baron von Kied, who, he thought, would make a jolly 
 companion on a walking tour. He, too, possessed the 
 most aristocratic manners, and he yielded nothing in 
 education, and perhaps not in taste, to Herr von 
 Oettern. But even on short acquaintance one felt his 
 shirt-sleeve temperament, that is, he was uncomfortable 
 in any kind of society disguise, even though he knew 
 how to wear it with grace, and his impetuous vitality 
 loved best to walk abroad, naked in the sunshine. It 
 was characteristic of him that while in conversation he 
 avoided all the brutalities of the " mighty geniuses," 
 his nature was nevertheless tempered with a refreshing 
 lack of prejudice and prudery that stamped him at once 
 as a productive man of the time. 
 
 He could not be put into any party programme, he 
 felt no respect whatever for the venerable dryasdust 
 wisdom of tradition nor for the catch-phrases of the 
 day. He knew much and took a lively interest in 
 everything that set the minds of men a-working in 
 these days of intellectual ferment. His opinions came 
 out bold and sharp, but at the same time he listened 
 to the exceptions of others and was very willing to be 
 convinced by good arguments. They are rare men 
 who are open to conviction! They are set down as 
 weak characters. That's why they are so unwilling to 
 be convinced !
 
 246 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Do you know/' said the baron in the course of the 
 conversation, " I really hate music, because it absorbs 
 every artistic instinct of the million at the expense of 
 serious arts. ^Nowadays the educated classes use up 
 so much nerve-power and brain-oil in their feverish 
 struggle for life, that they refuse to subject their brains 
 to any effort in the appreciation of art, if indeed they 
 feel any desire for it at alL That is the reason why so 
 few people take any interest in literature. All of us 
 who live in the present and no longer play with old 
 dolls we all are trying so sincerely to grapple with 
 the great questions of the day, to delineate modern 
 man, this bundle of nerves wrapped in epidermis a 
 terrible example, to reform our customs, and I don't 
 know what. We are fanatic Lenten-preachers, devil- 
 painters and candle-lighters, but the dear good peo- 
 ple will not come to our churches, will hear nothing of 
 our deviltries, and shade their eyes from our candles 
 with both hands. Anything but seeing, anything but 
 thinking! But words mean that one has to think, 
 therefore away with the art of words ! So now they 
 all lie on their bellies before music. How blissfully it 
 rocks their thoughts to sleep: Wagalaweia! How it 
 warms into life the dormant emotions of the most slug- 
 gish of vertebrates: HojotoTio! How softly and 
 gently it croons, if necessary one can think of some- 
 thing when one listens, but it's not actually necessary 
 weiala-walalorweia! The sigh and the tingle, those 
 are the fundamental elements of music. Its actual 
 clearness hardly goes beyond that. It is therefore a lyric 
 art consisting only of exclamation-points and dashes. 
 To be sure our latest school of composition understands 
 description also, but after all it is the same simple ele-
 
 Wagalaweia 247 
 
 mentary actions that it is able to interpret intelligently : 
 storm and thunder, the murmur of forest and sea, and 
 a few other general manifestations of nature. But the 
 rest of it is all Wagalaweia, elemental ooze of feel- 
 ing ! We ought really to inscribe Wagalaweia over the 
 doors of all our conservatories of music. And Wag- 
 alaweia is perhaps the most graphic German equivalent 
 for the foreign word, music. Only the articulate word 
 can give to the primal ooze of tones the skeleton through 
 which tones acquire shape ; and when the bones are not 
 so very hard, as with Master Wagner, they are soft- 
 ened and crumbled and eaten away by the insidious 
 slime of the tones. Music is a jelly-fish, driven about 
 by the waves and glistening in gorgeous iridescence, a 
 joy to the senses; but at the bottom only a formless 
 incomprehensibility, a shapeless digestive apparatus, 
 that insatiably drags every living thing into its slimy 
 embrace and sucks the nourishing marrow of its being 
 out of it. Music water-pest Wagalaweia ! " 
 
 Herr von Oettern sat down on his piano-stool, 
 slapped his thigh and shook with laughter at the ex- 
 uberant throng of original metaphors which the baron 
 unloaded in his righteous enthusiasm. 
 
 " Water-pest bravo ! Jellyfish charming ! Wa- 
 galaweia primal ooze immense ! My dear friend, 
 may I offer you a drink on that ? Three Star brandy, 
 or chartreuse green stimulates digestion ! " 
 
 He got out a silver salver with high edges, upon 
 which stood several cut glass decanters which had round 
 their necks little silver shields bearing the names of the 
 best known cordials. 
 
 The baron was by no means put out by this raillery 
 and laughingly helped himself. Florian, too, could not
 
 248 Florian Mayr 
 
 resist a glass of brandy, but he could not bear to have the 
 baron's fascinating discourse choked off with a jest. 
 
 " I don't quite understand," he observed, continuing 
 the discussion, "how you, Baron, of all persons, can 
 make such an attack on music, for I've heard say that 
 you were a composer yourself, and without any doubt 
 you are a great music-lover, and more than that, one 
 who knows something about it, too." 
 
 " Yes, assuredly I am," replied the baron. " Music 
 is one of the necessities of my existence just the same 
 as well, let us say, for example, love. You see, peo- 
 ple like us three here stand in quite a different relation 
 to music from that of the great mass of the people who 
 crowd the concert-halls and have their daughters in- 
 structed in the pianoforte. It affords us the only pos- 
 sible gratification of our great longing for absolute 
 beauty. All the other arts, which are compelled to 
 copy nature and to portray the irreconcilable contrasts, 
 the deformities and brutalities of reality, can never at- 
 tain to pure beauty. Nor can they ever so emancipate 
 the world of sensation from its material conditions, that 
 an encumbering bit of earth will not remain. We poor 
 poets and scholars of to-day, who have to wrestle so 
 desperately with reality, who struggle along under the 
 burden of knowledge of thousands of years and yet 
 strive persistently to increase that knowledge, we cry 
 out with especial vehemence for emancipation from 
 reality, and find it to be an unspeakable relief, if we 
 may entirely free ourselves from the ban of knowl- 
 edge and bathe in the pure fountain of sensation. That 
 is what music affords us, I mean of course the music 
 that begins with the later Beethoven. This music 
 strengthens us, as well as the genuine musician, who has
 
 Wagalaweia 249 
 
 got to be a chap over lifesize nowadays, if he wants to 
 make a name for himself. But now just consider for 
 a moment our music-makers and our musical public. 
 Where amongst them will you find anything of that 
 emancipating, strength-stimulating influence, that music 
 exerts upon us thinking beings ? Liszt and Wagner 
 have bred the splendid species of universally educated 
 German orchestral conductors. Take a man like 
 Billow, for example. He is a new, unheard of, ab- 
 solutely original product, of which our fin-de-siecle cul- 
 ture may well be proud. But the general run of music- 
 folk brrr! I don't believe that the average talents 
 of any other art can show anywhere near so much stupid 
 conceit, general imbecility, shallow-pated bigotry, and 
 odious defects of character like envy and spite, as 
 music can. The insignificant, mediocre painter or 
 sculptor is nearly always a pleasant, amusing chap. 
 The unrecognized author, to be sure, is a perfectly 
 frightful bore, malicious, bitter, and more given to go- 
 ing to the devil than the rest, but at least he has many- 
 sided interests ; one can manage to talk with the brute, 
 in fact get something profitable out of him sometimes. 
 On the other hand intercourse with a musician of the 
 inferior class is apt to be impossible for a man of cul- 
 ture." 
 
 " By the Lord, you're right there," exclaimed 
 Florian, clenching his fist wrathfully. 
 
 But the baron would not be interrupted ; he had got 
 fairly going. His face glowed and his eyes flashed be- 
 hind his gold spectacles. 
 
 " And what do you suppose drives our upper ten 
 thousand to the concert-halls ? " he continued earnestly. 
 " What makes them swallow ancient art and modern art,
 
 250 Florian Mayr 
 
 good and bad, paltry virtuoso-trivialities as well as the 
 revelations of the great masters, with equal satisfaction ? 
 I say it is the facility of the enjoyment; one doesn't 
 have to think that's what makes them like music and 
 so much! It is taken as a nerve-stimulant, like tea, 
 coffee, and tobacco. And then it is so easy to prattle 
 wisely about it. Ideas about music are difficult to 
 bring to book; that's why the superficial mind can so 
 easily make believe when it prates of music. And then 
 again, the personality of the executing artist plays such 
 an important part in music. That's what makes women 
 in particular wild about it. They nearly always for- 
 get the work for the individual soloist or conductor who 
 interprets it. And, as in matters of art, men are wont 
 to feel and judge more womanly than women, with us 
 in Germany especially, we find vanity at the highest 
 premium in the musical world. And one thing more, 
 if you please: the expression of interest in music can 
 never compromise us. One may even be a Wagner en- 
 thusiast and still have a cousin in the Guards and an 
 uncle in the Cabinet! It is not to be denied that the 
 colossal social contrasts of our time have produced, in 
 our ruling classes, a fear of the unshackling of new 
 forces that has led to the tacit formation on the part of 
 these ruling classes of a ring for defense against free 
 thought for we know well enough that he who once 
 takes up with that is apt to suffer disagreeble conse- 
 quences ! But a vigorous modern literature cannot 
 elude these consequences, nor honest science either, and 
 even the plastic arts are easily infected with the spirit 
 of revolution. And of course pious subjects of His 
 Majesty and prudent aspirants refuse to have anything 
 to do with such art and such science, and for that rea-
 
 Wagalaweia 251 
 
 BOH they turn for their intellectual recreation to music, 
 which cannot be political if it tries. Our whole weak- 
 nerved, emasculated, thought-lazy, pusillanimous so- 
 ciety satisfies its mite of artistic craving with music. 
 And then again there are the strong ones to whom 
 music is really a necessity and a delight a vast pub- 
 lic indeed ! The strong enjoy music with discrimina- 
 tion and extract from it increase of strength; but the 
 weak, the great mass of concert-goers, devour it in- 
 discriminately, just as the subscribers to a circulating 
 library do their literary fodder, and I maintain that, so 
 far as these are concerned, music dilutes their sluggish 
 blood, yes, and thickens the few brains they have be- 
 sides. This music cult is simply a disease of modern 
 civilization, like the anaemia of our young women and 
 the nervous prostration of our mental workers. I pro- 
 pose that we dub this disease, ' Wagalaweia ! ' " 
 
 Florian sprang from his seat and shook the baron 
 by the hand. 
 
 " You speak right from my very soul ! " he cried out 
 with enthusiasm. " Just think, at first I had intended 
 to be a physician and now I'm going to live on the 
 disease of my fellow mortals after all. it must lie in 
 my blood I say, Baron, why don't you have that 
 printed?" 
 
 " Done so already, but it's no use ; you can't cure 
 symptoms. Do pardon me, boys, for spouting such a 
 leading article at you; only in my opinion people of 
 like sentiments ought to make themselves clear to one 
 another. But now let's talk about something else ! I 
 say, Herr Mayr, do you know that the whole Berlin 
 pack that we met at Raphael Silberstein's is coming 
 to Weimar for the Saint Elizabeth? Gais and his
 
 252 Florian Mayr 
 
 hangers-on, Tomatschek with his daughter and well, 
 two or three more wonderful people ! " 
 
 " Haven't you improved Fraulein Tomatschek 
 yet ? " inquired Florian with a laugh. 
 
 " Alas no, not yet ! " replied the baron. " I should 
 have to intrust her to my friend, Oettern. By the way, 
 that reminds me, how is that splendid girl, Ilonka 
 Badacs, getting on ? Do you remember how we laughed 
 that evening?" 
 
 The baron said this in the most natural manner and 
 failed to notice the sign his friend, Oettern, made him 
 with his eyebrows. Florian's face, however, suddenly 
 turned scarlet and his hands icy cold. 
 
 " Hm ! " he faltered, " on that subject, Baron, you 
 will have to consult your friend ! " 
 
 Herr von Hied gave a long whistle, " Aha ! une de 
 plus! " and he shook his finger banteringly at Jean 
 d'Oettern. D'Oettern quietly lighted a fresh cigarette 
 and played a few chords on the piano with his right 
 hand. Then he glanced over his shoulder at Florian 
 with a good-humored smile and said, " A slander a 
 miserable slander! You know Fraulein Badacs. 
 Well, we are old friends you are new friends 
 that's the whole difference ! So of course discre- 
 tion for granted ! But she's charming what can 
 one expect ? Quite right ! And she adores you she 
 praises you to the skies. Your kind heart and all 
 that I quite understand ! " 
 
 The disconnected words and phrases smote Florian's 
 ear without his being able to grasp their meaning. He 
 was only conscious of being red in the face and that he 
 would make himself very ridiculous if he should begin 
 to be quarrelsome now. He therefore pretended to have
 
 Wagalaweia 253 
 
 no more time to spare and took a somewhat precipitate 
 leave. 
 
 Herr von Oettern handed him his hat as well as his 
 " German grape-vine " and with consummate polite- 
 ness invited him to repeat his call at an early date. 
 Florian made an agreement with the baron to meet in 
 the " Genelli-Eoom " of the "Adler" inn where a 
 number of artists and litterateurs were accustomed to 
 foregather every evening, and then with a couple of 
 awkward bows, he made his exit from the studio, which 
 he had entered as the ferocious avenger of his 
 honor. 
 
 He had passed a stimulating hour in which he had re- 
 newed one agreeable acquaintance and made another 
 not less valuable. And in spite of this he was dissat- 
 isfied with himself and precisely in the mood to make 
 up for the one victim that had escaped him by looking 
 up a number of others for his cudgel. As he came 
 to the door of his house, he even deliberated for a mo- 
 ment whether he should not, for some reason or other, 
 give Mr. Crookes a good thrashing. The Englishman 
 had angered him not a little by his refusal to do any- 
 thing for the Mikulskas, on the flimsy ground that the 
 banquet, which had been so tragically interrupted, had 
 cost him enough already. They had not even left him 
 the rest of the champagne, and, more than that, his 
 boys had been unruly ever since that evening. A dis- 
 position of that kind seemed to Florian to merit a good 
 sound thrashing without any doubt; but, after all, it 
 would come in this case altogether too post festum, 
 as poor Helena had now been buried for over a week. 
 And besides Dick and Bob had attached themselves to 
 him so closely during the last few days, and he could
 
 254 Florian Mayr 
 
 not very well repay their affection by thrashing their 
 father. 
 
 Suddenly he thumped himself on the head and with 
 a loud voice called himself an ass. In his blind fury 
 he had been entertaining the wildest ideas instead of 
 simply proceeding to the chastisement of the chief sin- 
 ner, Ilonka Badacs ! 
 
 IVaulein Badacs was not at home. However, as the 
 landlady knew Herr Mayr well, she did not hesitate 
 to allow him to wait in Ilonka's room. But before he 
 had been there five minutes he became so impatient 
 that he could not stand it any longer. Besides he was 
 possessed by a vague fear that the naughty Ilonka 
 might easily be as successful as her aristocratic friend 
 in disarming his wrath by pure affability. She could 
 be so very nice sometimes, and if she should take it 
 into her head to cry Oh, heavens, then it would be all 
 up with his indignation ! So he pulled out of the disor- 
 derly accumulation of small articles lying about a sheet 
 of paper and an envelope, and set forth his opinions 
 thereon in writing. His pen fairly flew, for he had 
 his opinions well in hand and he had no intention what- 
 ever of disguising them. He therefore wrote the 
 young lady exactly what he thought of her, and that he 
 would under no circumstances continue to give her 
 lessons, or consort with her on any other footing than 
 that of the most formal politeness. This he expressed 
 in language that was most certainly neither parliamen- 
 tary nor fit to print, and that one might best describe 
 by the word " cudgel-prose." Without even reading 
 the letter over he thrust it into the envelope, wrote the 
 address, and then went his way in content. 
 
 He spent a very animated evening in the famous
 
 Wagalaweia 255 
 
 " Genelli-Room " of the old " Adler " inn, where, be- 
 sides Baron von Hied, he met a small circle of more 
 or less interesting men, among whom the celebrated 
 old actor, Otto Lehfeld, was undoubtedly the most re- 
 markable. The old gentleman related anecdotes of the- 
 atrical life, racy, it is true, but nevertheless pungently 
 humorous, and he told them so extremely well that the 
 company did not stop laughing for hours. That night 
 Florian slept soundly and was awakened next morning 
 by his own laughter, one of Lehfeld's delicious anec- 
 dotes occurring to him in that state of semi-conscious- 
 ness that is wont to precede the moment of awakening. 
 
 He presented himself to the Master at the usual hour 
 in the best of spirits. But Liszt did not receive him 
 as cordially as usual. He was monosyllabic and his 
 noble brow was clouded. A manuscript score lay be- 
 fore him but he was not looking at it, but gazing medi- 
 tatively over it into space. Then he suddenly slammed 
 the score to, shoved it aside and took a letter from the 
 writing-desk, which he handed to Florian opened. 
 
 " There pchah ! What does that mean, my son ? " 
 he inquired reproachfully. With astonishment Flor- 
 ian recognized his own letter that he had written only 
 the evening before to his faithless inamorata. He laid 
 it down on the table again slowly and stammered in 
 confusion, " I only wanted ... I was so furious 
 I simply cannot stand this immoral wallowing ! " 
 
 " Nonsense ! " exclaimed Liszt, knitting his brows. 
 "Does one write to a lady like that? For shame!" 
 And he tore the letter into small pieces and threw them 
 angrily into the waste-paper basket. 
 
 " Oh, Master, you don't know " began Florian, 
 but he did not finish the sentence. The bitter pain that
 
 256 Morian Mayr 
 
 his own fall and the destruction of all his youthful illu- 
 sions had given him, once more became hot anguish 
 in his soul. His eyes filled with tears. He sank into 
 the nearest chair, turned his face in shame from his 
 beloved Master, and bit his lips, in order not to sob 
 aloud. 
 
 Then Liszt went up to him, stroked his hair sooth- 
 ingly and said, " Oh, come now, du courage, mon enfant ! 
 Come, tell me all about it, my dear boy ! " 
 
 Florian turned quickly and kissed the old man's 
 kindly hand. And then he confessed. He told how 
 morally pure and even austere he was when he had 
 come to Weimar, and how the dissolute behavior of the 
 " Swarm " had filled him with righteous indignation. 
 And then he admitted with flaming cheeks how he had 
 stupidly swallowed all the lies the merry crew had 
 dished up for him ; how he had fallen more and more 
 in love with his piquant pupil, until at last, in delicious 
 intoxication, he had become, through knowledge, like 
 the rest ; how his conscience had smote him ; and how 
 he determined honestly to expiate his fault and make 
 himself happy at the same time, and then at last the 
 bitter disappointment! He was brought up to hard 
 knocks and knew no other way to resent the insult to 
 his ideals than to use violence, or at least, abusive lan- 
 guage. 
 
 When Florian had finished his confession, Liszt gazed 
 for a long while out of the window and mused. Then 
 he turned round again with a smile, and, laying his 
 hand on Florian' s shoulder, said: 
 
 " I believe you are the first pupil of this sort that I 
 ever had. The "guileless fool" Parsifal bravo! 
 J5ut my son, when one thinks and feels like that, it
 
 Wagalaweia 257 
 
 makes life too unhappy, and that is not necessary. 
 Furthermore, you are unjust to the others when you 
 condemn them so absolutely, merely because they un- 
 derstand love in their own way. Believe me, that is the 
 standpoint only of narrow-minded priests and soured 
 old maids, when one judges the morality of people solely 
 according to their conduct in sexual matters. I have a 
 long life behind me and I have enjoyed woman's kind- 
 ness as perhaps few other men, and I look back now 
 upon the adventures of my youth with a calm and 
 grateful heart. Ah, mon dieu, there was many a furi- 
 ous storm, many a frenzied passion let loose, and I 
 tossed about amongst it all like a rudderless ship upon 
 the ocean. It was grotesque sometimes haha ! 
 sometimes tragic too. But for all the women who have 
 honored me with their love I preserve the deepest grati- 
 tude. Without ecstasy no artist can exist; intoxica- 
 tion of the senses fructifies the imagination, and it is 
 absolutely certain that no man who is not more or less 
 sensual can be an artist. Nor is it just to say that 
 only the genius shall have the right to yield to his 
 impulses in what manner he likes. It is possible for 
 a man to produce works of little importance, and yet 
 be possessed of a genuinely artistic temperament. 
 Neither religion nor social morality has the right to 
 dictate laws as to how male and female shall behave one 
 to the other. There Nature reigns supreme, and the 
 rights of what we call propriety extend only so far as 
 to see to it that the mysteries of love be not shamelessly 
 desecrated. An old man who has been through and 
 fathomed many things tells you that the conduct of 
 men in matters of love is of no value whatsoever in 
 judging of their moral worth. I have known so many
 
 258 Florian Mayr 
 
 eminent men of trustworthy character and noble senti- 
 ments, refined, generous, good, everything one could 
 wish, and nevertheless in puncto puncti pchah 
 wanton butterflies! And I have also known hard- 
 hearted, base-minded, ignoble men, who in that respect 
 led immaculate lives. Lack of temperament is always 
 coupled with disagreeableness particularly in women. 
 Ah yes, the poor women! They are so cruelly perse- 
 cuted. Men want only the one thing of them, but when 
 a woman dares to dispose of her favors as she pleases, 
 and to follow the dictates of her temperament like a 
 free man, she is stoned by men and women alike. That 
 is why it is easy for women of too ardent blood to fall 
 so low and become depraved. The injustice of the world 
 fairly drives them into a life of shame. Think a 
 moment, my son: how can you ask of this poor Ilonka 
 that she shall love you alone and belong to you alone? 
 She is just as free a being as you are and an artist 
 full of temperament. Has she not the same rights as 
 you have ? You treat her like a criminal for whom no 
 expression of scorn can be too strong, and at the same 
 time you yourself know best of all how good she is. 
 She is as innocent and honest as a child and has the 
 softest heart and the truest, noblest character of all 
 my young women pupils. You have wounded her cru- 
 elly. Go and ask her forgiveness ! She was here late 
 last night and cried pitifully over your foolish letter. 
 Make amends, my son ! We artists must not be priests ; 
 but we may be Christians and to despise human 
 weakness is un-Christian ! " 
 
 The aged Master stood there, his form erect and 
 radiant in the morning sunlight, in which his snow 
 white hair shone about his head like a halo, and his
 
 Wagalaweia 259 
 
 kindly eyes looked down with fatherly affection upon 
 the young man, who sat prone in his chair before him. 
 
 Overwhelmed, Florian bent over his wise Master's 
 hand and then went out without a word, that he might 
 commune with himself by lonely ways.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 A Wiedersehen 
 
 ABOUT the middle of June after long and careful prep- 
 arations, Liszt's Legend of St. Elizabeth, with full stage 
 setting, was to be given at the Court Theater of Weimar. 
 Many men were gathered together in Weimar for this 
 event, bearers of names wellknown in the world of mu- 
 sic. On the day of the performance Baron von Ried 
 and Florian Mayr went at noon to the railway station 
 to welcome their Berlin acquaintances. 
 
 The train puffed into the station and there at one of 
 the car windows they caught sight of Raphael Silber- 
 stein's enormous nose. The train had barely come to 
 a standstill when that archangel of the divine Gais 
 opened the door and sprang out, all eagerness and zeal to 
 assist the great Peter and his retinue in dismounting. 
 This retinue consisted of Herr Tomatschek and his 
 daughter and another lady whose resolute expression 
 was more striking than her beauty. The baron did 
 not hesitate even amid the throng and tumult of the 
 station to greet the great composer by loudly trumpeting 
 a motif from one of his operas, for which he received 
 in acknowledgment a gracious bend of the head. Peter 
 Gais's neck had grown still thicker in the course of the 
 last months and it was probably this that caused him 
 to carry his head higher than ever. The energetic look- 
 ing lady with the close cropped curly hair he coolly in- 
 troduced as his pupil and devoted friend. Herr Tomat- 
 
 260
 
 A Wiedersehen 261 
 
 schek was as handsome as ever. He wore a black vel- 
 vet jacket and a white silk shirt with a silk cravat. 
 And his daughter, Libussa, with all her lovely dark 
 beauty looked even by bright daylight pale, weary, and 
 wornout. They approached the exit, Peter Gais with 
 his " devoted friend " in the lead, behind them, Raphael 
 Silberstein, laden with two valises and various smaller 
 pieces of luggage, then the baron with Libussa Tomat- 
 schek on his arm, and finally Florian with the father of 
 this singular maiden. 
 
 On the terrace in front of the station the little troop 
 halted in order to come to some conclusion about a 
 hotel. At that moment Florian suddenly caught the 
 sound of a wellknown voice. He turned quickly and 
 found himself face to face with Thekla Burmester*! 
 She gave a little startled cry : " Oh, Herr Mayr ! " 
 and then seized her father who was walking at her 
 side by the arm to attract his attention. But Herr Bur- 
 mester pretended not to see Florian and felt busily in 
 his purse for some small change to give the porter. 
 His wife, however, who was a few steps in the rear, 
 had recognized Florian at once. She cast an angry 
 look at him in passing and, taking her daughter by the 
 arm, led her quickly down the stone steps. But Thekla 
 was not to be prevented from looking back over her 
 shoulder and Florian quickly raised his hat with a nod 
 and a kindly smile. At the same moment a figure 
 hurried past him which he thought he recognized also: 
 soft hat, thick dark hair, and a mustache with a melan- 
 choly droop, surely that was ? The gentleman en- 
 tered the omnibus of the " Russischer Hof " with the 
 Burmesters. Of course it was Antonine Prczewalski, 
 the " sensitive artist ! " So he was traveling with the
 
 262 Florian Mayr 
 
 Bunnesters, stopping at the same hotel, probably at 
 the consul's expense, perhaps he was even more closely 
 connected with the family. Florian stamped his foot 
 and looked angrily after the omnibus as it rattled away. 
 
 The voice of Herr Tomatschek brought him to him- 
 self again : " Perhaps you are acquainted with the peo- 
 ple with whom our friend Prczewalski is traveling ? " 
 he asked curiously. " I saw them all get on together in 
 Berlin." 
 
 " Aha ! Then you know this damned Prositlaus, 
 too ? " replied Florian. " I used to give Fraulein Bur- 
 mester piano lessons, that was the Consul Burmester 
 of the Markgrafenstrasse. Has the scamp had the ef- 
 frontery ? " 
 
 " Why, certainly, he is said to be engaged to her," 
 interrupted Tomatschek quickly. " There's money be- 
 hind it all, I suppose ? I have heard something about 
 a million marks, some say a million thalers ! " 
 
 " You, my dear Herr Tomatschek," cried Florian 
 suddenly with droll solemnity, seizing the handsome 
 Toby firmly by the arm, " You may call me a black- 
 guard if I allow this noble Pole to get out of Weimar 
 without a thrashing. I still have something charged 
 up against him in my accounts. I take you for my 
 witness." 
 
 "Ah, with pleasure," replied Tomatschek joyfully. 
 " If you issue tickets of admission please put me down 
 for one. No one can abide the fellow, this Prczewalski. 
 He's an earwig, bedbug that makes his nest everywhere, 
 that is, of course only where there is something to be 
 had, he can't be exterminated. Besides he has no 
 ability. Why this winter he gave a concert of his own 
 compositions at the Singakademie, the consul of
 
 A Wiedersehen 263 
 
 course paid for it all, I tell you that was the greatest 
 rot I ever heard in all my life! Even the dead-heads 
 got up and fled after the first half-hour; you can guess 
 from that how many people stayed to the bitter end. 
 That pretty Fraulein there presented him with an enor- 
 mous laurel wreath with ribbons in the Polish colors, 
 white and red." 
 
 " What, Thekla ? " cried Florian in a rage. " Well, 
 my God, are all womenfolk possessed of the devil ? " 
 
 Peter Gais and his party had at last settled upon the 
 "Adler" inn and they crawled into its omnibus, but 
 Baron von Hied and Florian preferred to return to the 
 town on foot. The baron's humor was as cheerful as 
 Florian's was sour. 
 
 " Heaven is my witness," exclaimed the former with 
 animation, "this Libussa Tomatschek delights me 
 mightily. Why, what a charming little head she has 
 and what wonderfully silky hair ! " 
 
 " Oh, stuff ! leave me out of it ! " growled Florian. 
 " I can't understand how anyone can get excited about 
 these fool girls. I'm done with the baggage." 
 
 " Herrgottsacra! but I do get excited," cried the 
 baron laughing, " and when I no longer take any pleas- 
 ure in the dear girls, I think I might as well get off 
 the earth altogether." The baron easily became in- 
 fected with any dialect and in this speech Florian's 
 Bavarian accents had caused him to fall into the choicest 
 stage of Tyrolese. 
 
 Florian looked at him askance with an expression of 
 ironical pity. " It seems to me," he said, " a man 
 ought to be glad to get out of all this social business and 
 have some peace at last. I suppose, after all, the most 
 sensible thing to do is to get married ; then all you've
 
 264 Florian Mayr 
 
 got to worry about is just your one goose at home and 
 not the whole flock of geese running round outside." 
 
 The baron stood still and laughed aloud. " Oh, holy 
 innocence ! " he exclaimed. " !Now, pray, give me your 
 attention ; I'll proclaim to you an incontrovertible truth : 
 you need to be married at most a year in order to 
 become solemnly convinced that all geese without a sin- 
 gle exception are preferable to your own, or rather 
 that you, unhappy man, have happened to catch the 
 normal, original, primeval goose, in comparison with 
 which all unmarried females of your acquaintance shine 
 as angels." 
 
 Florian glanced at the baron distrustfully. " Then 
 have you had such pleasant experiences to go through ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 " If you please, let us not become personal," answered 
 Herr von Hied, growing suddenly serious. " But mark 
 one thing: a genuine artist ought never to marry, or 
 at all events, no, the exceptions baffle all descrip- 
 tion." 
 
 " Well, according to all that, you don't seem to have 
 a very high opinion of women either." 
 
 " I ? Oh ! I have always tried my best to be just. Let 
 me tell you something, my dear Herr Mayr : women are 
 esteemed most highly by men who have been fortunate 
 in love and who have at the same time preserved their 
 nobility of nature ; in a lesser degree they are valued by 
 men who are perfectly contented with their married 
 life, and least of all by the wealthy voluptuaries. The 
 man who regards love as a business transaction will 
 always despise women, just as young men do who have 
 never been regarded by any decent woman as grown- 
 up, and just as certain underbred men do, whose hope-
 
 A Wiedersehen 265 
 
 less and complete vulgarity must forever exclude them 
 from the society of women of refinement." 
 
 At the next street corner the baron took leave of 
 Florian with the understanding that they were to meet 
 their friends after the performance in the evening. 
 Florian went on alone to the restaurant where he was 
 accustomed to take his tedious midday meal. He was 
 in a wretched frame of mind. He had listened to so 
 many wise sayings about women from his Master and 
 from this distinguished author whose professional 
 knowledge of the human soul gave his words authority, 
 and yet all the philosophy he had imbibed did not 
 serve to restore his equanimity. He regretted his bru- 
 tality towards Fraulein Badacs and had, in fact, since 
 she had refused to see him, begged her pardon in writ- 
 ing. He had received no answer from her but she had 
 returned his salutation pleasantly when he bowed to her 
 in the street. At their meeting, however, in Liszt's 
 salon she had given him clearly to understand that she 
 would permit no further discussion of the matter. That 
 had angered him, too, for he still felt that he was the 
 one that had been injured first. To him she had been 
 of all women the first, but to her he was of no signifi- 
 cance whatsoever, a perfect zero ! That was more than 
 his pride could swallow ; it cut him deeply. 
 
 And now all at once the other one had turned up 
 again, the good, sadly persecuted child, who had at- 
 tached herself to him with so much trustfulness, even 
 though he had abused her! The look she had given 
 him when she turned round in front of the station had 
 said distinctly : " Come, help me, don't you see how 
 unhappy I am ! " And all this time that he had been 
 in Weimar, he had not given her one thought. He had,
 
 266 Florian Mayr 
 
 like the great simple greenhorn that he was, stumbled 
 into an adventure with a person to whom his homely 
 German sentiment was only a matter for mirth, and 
 meanwhile dear little Thekla, who was surely better 
 suited to him, he had left helpless and abandoned to 
 her fate. If she really was engaged to the loathsome 
 Pole, if she really had in public presented that object 
 of disgust with a laurel wreath, then she certainly must 
 have been forced into it and only her despair had 
 availed to overcome her opposition. Ay, ay ! that was 
 the way of it: it was he that was to blame for letting 
 this brazenfaced Polack steal the dear girl and sneak 
 off with her good money into the bargain. Was it in- 
 exorable fate that the moment an honest man had any- 
 thing to do with women everything must go wrong 
 with him ? What a comfortable life he had led hitherto, 
 and now it seemed to him that he was nothing but a good- 
 for-nothing wretch. 
 
 The food did not taste good. The last course he 
 left untouched and for two hours wandered about with- 
 out purpose or destination. The afternoon passed 
 drearily, especially as the reception at Liszt's was 
 omitted on account of the performance in the evening. 
 In the theater at last he found diversion and excite- 
 ment. 
 
 The little old house was filled to the last chair and in 
 the parquet and first gallery were to be seen many musical 
 celebrities, out of town critics, and distinguished friends 
 of the great Master. The grand-ducal family with the 
 court occupied the large middle box, a circumstance 
 which of itself gave the occasion an air of impressive 
 dignity. The Burmester family sat in the first gallery 
 at the right, places formerly reserved for the nobility,
 
 A Wiedersehen 267 
 
 and, between the all too slender Frau Consul and the 
 plump and pretty Thekla, Antonine Prczewalski was 
 posing. In the so-called "visitors' box" sat Jean 
 d'Oettern beside a member of a mediatized princely 
 house and his handsome consort. He used his opera- 
 glass industriously and bowed and smiled to his ac- 
 quaintances on all sides. Baron von Kied, Toby 
 Tomatschek and daughter, Peter Gais with his " devoted 
 friend," and Florian Mayr sat together in the parquet. 
 In the intendant's small orchestra box appeared just 
 before the beginning of the performance Franz Liszt. 
 A table with two candles had been placed in the box 
 for his use. On the table lay his orchestral score in 
 case he should wish to refer to it during the perform- 
 ance. At the left in the first gallery Florian noticed to 
 his great surprise Ilonka Badacs in the company of the 
 gaunt Mr. Crookes. The boys were not there, pre- 
 sumably they were not permitted to go to the theater 
 as yet! 
 
 Until the overture began, Florian kept his eyes as 
 much as possible on the Burmesters. He could see how 
 the Pole with a great show of tenderness kept trying to 
 draw Thekla into conversation while she kept turning 
 away impatiently and busying herself with her opera- 
 glass. Was it possible that she was looking for her 
 former teacher and faithless friend ? Her glass ranged 
 through all the rows of the parquet from back to front. 
 Florian rose and turned his back to the orchestra. 
 There, now she seemed to have caught sight of 
 him ! He saluted her with his eyes and a slight bend 
 of the head, and she put her glass down. He thought 
 he had seen her dark little head inclined just a little 
 towards him. At that moment Prczewalski brought his
 
 268 Florian Mayr 
 
 lips close to her and whispered something. She 
 shrugged her shoulders, obviously annoyed and leaned 
 back in her seat. The handsome Antonine took the 
 glass from her hand and now in his turn directed it 
 towards Florian. But just then the lights were turned 
 down and the overture began. 
 
 In less than quarter of an hour Florian had forgotten 
 all his surroundings and was completely under the 
 spell of this wonderful music. He was one of the 
 probably very few hearers who followed with undivided 
 attention and honest admiration the somewhat laby- 
 rinthine paths which the mind of the Master had 
 traversed in his St. Elizabeth. The work is too far 
 removed from everything operatic, too ecclesiastical in 
 its style, and furthermore too undramatic in construc- 
 tion to produce a powerful effect upon the stage. As a 
 consequence the naive listeners were thoroughly bored ; 
 they awoke from their quiet little catnaps only for the 
 Crusaders' march and the storm scene, and they were 
 heartily glad when it was all over, but the professionals 
 and especially the closer friends of the Master and of 
 his school were all filled with delight over the wealth 
 of musically significant details and the atmosphere of 
 religious consecration which pervaded the whole work. 
 At the close of the performance numerous groups, espe- 
 cially of visiting strangers, remained standing in the 
 vestibule or in the auditorium to see Liszt when he 
 came out. Among these was the Burmester family as 
 well as Peter Gais with his contingent. The poor little 
 Herr Consul had been roundly scolded by his wife be- 
 fore they had got down stairs because he had yawned 
 constantly. Thekla, following at her mother's heels, 
 had heard this and in the vestibule she whispered re-
 
 A Wiedersehen 269 
 
 assuringly : " !N"ever mind, papa, I thought it was 
 awfully tiresome, too." 
 
 At this point Prczewalski came up with a young gen- 
 tleman belonging to the outer circle of the Lisztites 
 whom he introduced as his friend. Frau Burmester 
 at once drew the gentleman into conversation and sought 
 to ascertain all sorts of intimate facts about Liszt's mode 
 of life and his attitude towards his women pupils. All 
 the information that the young gentleman was able to 
 give failed to satisfy her. She regarded the linger- 
 ing groups through her long-handled lorgnon, asked the 
 names of different individuals, and all at once burst 
 out : " Tell me, how should one go about it to meet 
 Liszt? We should be greatly delighted to attend one 
 of his afternoon receptions, shouldn't we, Willy ? " 
 
 " Yes, indeed, tremendously," declared the consul 
 dutifully. 
 
 " Well, if you have any connections, " answered the 
 gentleman. 
 
 " Oh, we know the whole musical world of Berlin," 
 cried Frau Burmester almost defiantly. " Besides our 
 future son-in-law left a very influential visiting card 
 at the Master's only this afternoon: the score of his 
 latest symphonic poem." 
 
 " Ah ! " cried Antonine's friend with a peculiar 
 smile, " that to be sure. Besides to-morrow evening 
 there is to be a great reception at Liszt's. The court 
 will be there and a number of distinguished artists 
 and other celebrities. And there is likely to be an un- 
 commonly interesting programme of musical treats. 
 Smetana, the Bohemian, will play a new piano quar- 
 tette, a notable Russian singer is to sing, and then, 
 Oh, yes, Daniela von Billow is coming over from Bay-
 
 270 Florian Mayr 
 
 reuth on purpose, I've heard ; you know, of course, Frau 
 Cosima's eldest daughter." 
 
 " We must go ! " cried Frau Burmester excitedly. 
 " At any price. We'll stay over another day, won't 
 we, Willy?" 
 
 " We haven't even heen presented yet," objected 
 Herr Burmester timidly. 
 
 " Oh, nonsense, what's the use of having a son-in-law 
 in spe," laughed Frau Olga exuberantly. " You'll ar- 
 range that for us, won't you, dear Antonine ? " 
 
 Antonine ran his fingers through his hair, snorted 
 once or twice, and looked around helplessly. " Khn, 
 khn, I really don't know " 
 
 " Well, then for heaven's sake make up to some in- 
 fluential person or other," snapped Frau Burmester im- 
 patiently. " Who is it that has the most influence with 
 Liszt here?" 
 
 Antonine's friend smiled scornfully as he' replied: 
 " Well if your son-in-law had the honor of knowing the 
 celebrated Herr Mayr, you might then still cherish 
 hopes." 
 
 " Who is Herr Mayr ? " inquired Frau Olga, elevat- 
 ing her scrawny shoulders. 
 
 "" Oh, isn't the celebrated Herr Mayr known in 
 Berlin yet? He throws ladies down stairs and plays 
 the savage Cerberus before the holy of holies. Why 
 he simply hypnotizes the good Master and makes him 
 do whatever he likes, this celebrated Herr Mayr with 
 a-y-r, Florian Mayr." 
 
 " Papa, did you hear ? " whispered Thekla in ex- 
 citement, squeezing her father's arm tightly. 
 
 The consul nodded and, turning to his future son-in-
 
 A Wiedersehen 271 
 
 law, said with an engaging jeer: "Why, that is most 
 opportune ; you know Herr Mayr so well ! " 
 
 The noble Pole turned pale with rage and snorted his 
 disgusting " khn, khn " so violently through his nose 
 that the hairs of his silky mustache trembled visibly. 
 
 Frau Olga made a sour face and reproved her hus- 
 band's rudeness with a severe glance. 
 
 At this moment Liszt entered the vestibule by one 
 of the side doors. At his right walked the court con- 
 ductor, Lassen, who had conducted the evening's per- 
 formance, and at his left Morian Mayr. The gentle- 
 men present took off their hats and bowed low before 
 the venerable Master and some of the ladies, too, made 
 a formal court curtsey. Some elderly gentlemen went 
 up and spoke to him. 
 
 Florian had descried the Burmesters at once. He 
 looked Thekla straight in the eye and saluted her with 
 great cordiality; whereat she blushed scarlet and 
 dropped a curtsey like a little girl. Instantly her 
 mother gave her a stealthy dig in the ribs. 
 
 " What are you thinking of ! We don't know that 
 person," she whispered. 
 
 Almost at the same moment Antonine's friend, cov- 
 ering his mouth with his hand, said in a low voice: 
 " Madam, that is the celebrated Herr Mayr. Just 
 look, papa Liszt is introducing him to the old gentle- 
 man. Good Lord, how affectionately he pats him! 
 It's incomprehensible, the infatuation he has for that 
 man ! " Then, turning to Prczewalski : " Well, why 
 don't you go and speak to your friend Mayr ? " 
 
 " Oh, some day I shall kill the man ! " hissed An- 
 tonine angrily.
 
 272 Florian Mayr 
 
 Liszt moved towards the door and the whole com- 
 pany followed him. Antonine offered his arm to his 
 fiancee hut she repulsed him with a shudder and clung 
 the closer to her father. 
 
 " Come, papa, let's get away from here quickly," she 
 whispered excitedly. " I can't stand it any longer." 
 
 The Frau Consul caught sight of the rapidly de- 
 parting pair and, seizing Antonine' s arm and drawing 
 him quickly along with her, she burst out angrily: 
 " Xow, you see, there she is running away from you 
 again. What does it mean ? I helieve you don't know 
 how to command her respect; you must make some im- 
 pression upon the child ! " 
 
 " Oh, ought I perhaps to strike her like this Herr 
 Hayr ? " retorted Antonine offended. " That seems to 
 be the surest way to make an impression upon Fraulein 
 Thekla." 
 
 " And what do you do ? " rejoined Frau Olga irri- 
 tated. " You're always telling her of your marvelous 
 successes with all kinds of great ladies and boasting of 
 your princely and other famous acquaintances. If in- 
 stead of that you'd have success with some of your 
 works or could make your personality tell in any way at 
 all, as this Herr Mayr does ! But you can't even get 
 us an invitation to Liszt's." 
 
 " Oh, I beg your pardon, allow me, mamma," con- 
 tradicted Antonine, greatly piqued. " I will procure 
 you an invitation, but a trifle for me. Liszt has re- 
 quested me to go to him to-morrow at nine o'clock to 
 go through my work with me. He would be very glad 
 to make my acquaintance, was the word he sent me. 
 Oh, you will see, mother, whether I make impression or 
 not. Khn, khn!"
 
 A Wiedersehen 273 
 
 "Well, we'll hope for the best," replied Frau Bur- 
 mester, not yet quite convinced. 
 
 " And now, dear mamma," continued Antonine with 
 a tender intonation, " you will help me, won't you ? that 
 the wedding day may be named soon. I assure you, 
 Thekla's opposition is nothing but a young girl's shy- 
 ness. I shall be able to overcome that brilliantly as 
 soon as I am her husband. Please, khn, I overcame 
 the pride of the Countess Leszczynska and the little 
 countess " 
 
 " Oh, yes, I know, her real wish was to go into a 
 convent and then she thought she'd rather be carried 
 off by you, you've already told me that story, dear 
 Antonine. For your sake I honestly regret that our 
 Thekla possesses so little of the temperament of your 
 Polish countesses." There was not the slightest doubt 
 that Frau Olga was speaking ironically. 
 
 " Oh, I shall, khn," began Prczewalski, proudly 
 throwing out his chest. 
 
 But his future mother-in-law impatiently *cut him 
 short and, imitating his accent, cried : " Oh, you will ! 
 What you will and what you won't do ! You're the 
 greatest musician of the future that I have ever en- 
 countered. But you've really got to marry Thekla 
 pretty soon for these everlasting tiresome scenes with 
 my husband must stop. Unfortunately he has once for 
 all a prejudice against you. Make the child happy, 
 that's the only thing you've got to do if you want to win 
 the consul over." Thus speaking, they had reached 
 their hotel. 
 
 Meanwhile Florian had accompanied his Master home 
 and there had left him to his older friends and ad- 
 mirers in order himself to keep his appointment with
 
 274 Florian Mayr 
 
 his Berlin acquaintances at the " Sachsischer Hof." 
 But he wanted to let the exalted and devotional im- 
 pression of the work he had just heard fade away in his 
 soul harmoniously, so, before returning to the company 
 of men, and especially of Berliners, he made his way, 
 not through the town, but around by the back of the 
 Hofgartnerei and thence through the park. 
 
 When he reached the neighborhood of the Rondell, 
 where on fine Sundays in summer the military band 
 used to play, he heard the cooing of lovers and, as he 
 came nearer, he could dimly descry a couple on one of 
 the benches. He stepped from the gravel walk to the 
 grass and listened. He himself thought that it was not 
 exactly nice of him, but he yielded nevertheless to the 
 sudden impulse in order to learn for once how the thing 
 was done among normally constituted lovers. There 
 was something like envy in the impulse; for since 
 he had fared so badly in his first love affair, he carried 
 about in his heart an ardent yearning to be loved. 
 
 " My poor little heart, I'm awfully sorry for you," he 
 heard the man say. " Of course it's no wonder that 
 you've got your head full of such strange ideas about 
 the world and about us men in particular. You grew 
 up in a wholly unhealthy and abnormal atmosphere." 
 
 Florian thought he recognized the voice. Could this 
 cultured lover be ? 
 
 Then the girl began to speak but not in tones of 
 tenderness. She spoke in a loud voice and dug the toe 
 of her shoe viciously into the gravel. " But I don't 
 want to be pitied, I can't at all make out what it is 
 that you want. I have a father who adores me; I en- 
 joy the friendship of distinguished men; the whole 
 world of my thoughts I have for myself."
 
 A Wiedersehen 275 
 
 " That's just the trouble," interrupted the gentleman 
 eagerly. " If you would only think a little bit less and 
 feel a little bit more naturally, all hearts would go out 
 to you and you could exercise an extraordinary power 
 over men. Believe me, I'm convinced that you have 
 within you the makings of a great artist but you won't 
 give the artist a chance against the cross-grained, spoiled 
 child within you. It would all come so easy to you, 
 especially on the stage; your natural feminine charm 
 furnishes you with three-quarters of your success to 
 start with. So first learn to be a nice dear girl and all 
 other blessings will be showered into your lap." 
 
 " I notice, Herr Baron, that for the last ten minutes 
 you have consistently addressed me in the forms of 
 intimacy," replied the girl unmoved. By this time 
 Florian knew exactly whom he had before him: it was 
 Baron von Eied who was doing his utmost for the re- 
 generation of Libussa Tomatschek. 
 
 " Good heavens, girl," cried the baron in comical 
 despair, " you're a regular iceberg ! You certainly 
 must have noticed that I like you, deuce take it all! 
 Don't interrupt me all the time with your frivolous re- 
 marks. I don't want to start a flirtation with you. 
 Why are you so absurdly stubborn ? All that I want 
 to do is to bring you to reason and thereby earn my re- 
 ward in heaven." 
 
 " Ah, indeed, and that's the reason you advise me to 
 be unreasonable ? " 
 
 " Exactly, and very well said ! Verily, I say unto 
 you, my gracious Fraulein, except ye become as one of 
 those that are in love, it's all up with the kingdom of 
 heaven, that is, on earth." 
 
 Fraulein Libussa laughed aloud and the baron, fold-
 
 276 Florian Mayr 
 
 ing her in his arms, cried in uncontrolled delight: 
 " Ay, see that, how wonderfully pretty your laugh is ! 
 Come, you shall have a good kiss for that." 
 
 " Oh ! " said the Fraulein, struggling feebly, but the 
 baron already held her by the head and stifled her pro- 
 tests with his kisses. 
 
 Florian felt that at this point propriety demanded 
 a speedy retreat on his part. The night was so mild and 
 the moon shone with such a matchmaking wantonness, 
 like a lonely lantern in a dark alley, and every fifty 
 steps Florian came upon a slowly strolling pair of 
 lovers with their arms tenderly entwined, it was 
 enough to drive one mad ! If only he might now take 
 a stroll with dear little Thekla Burmester, her dark 
 head upon his shoulder, his arm around her waist, 
 surely he could think of enough tender words to whisper 
 in her ear and he was convinced that he would not be 
 reduced to the necessity of calling her " a regular ice- 
 berg," as the baron had his singular companion. He 
 certainly would have felt no uneasiness about the puta- 
 tive bridegroom; Thekla's eyes had plainly betrayed 
 that her feeling for him had remained the same. 
 
 In the garden of the " Sachsischer Hof " Florian 
 found a rather discontented company. Peter Gais had 
 just quarreled with his " devoted friend " and was 
 sulkily chewing his cigar. Kaphael Silberstein hitched 
 about uneasily on his chair and deliberated in vain how 
 to lead the Titan's thoughts into another channel. Toby 
 Tomatschek had turned his back upon the entire com- 
 pany in order to keep his eyes fixed on the door ; from 
 time to time in his excitement he tumbled his curly hair 
 about. 
 
 " What have you done with my daughter ? " called
 
 A Wiedersehen 277 
 
 out the handsome man as Florian approached the 
 table. 
 
 Florian shrugged his shoulders and put on an air 
 of complete astonishment and profound ignorance. He 
 sat down beside the " violin-king " and looked from one 
 to the other in wonder. ISTo one spoke a word. 
 
 Suddenly Peter Gais emitted an inimitable, con- 
 temptuous " Ho ! " and shifted his cigar from the right 
 corner of his mouth to the left. All looked at him ex- 
 pectantly but for the present the Titan had nothing 
 more to say. Florian meanwhile gave his order to the 
 waiter. 
 
 Toby Tomatschek heaved a deep sigh and, leaning 
 over to Florian, whispered in his ear : " I have a fore- 
 boding of evil." 
 
 " Oh, pshaw ! " rejoined Florian with unbecoming 
 hilarity. 
 
 " The baron has run away with my daughter, what'll 
 you wager ? " whispered the handsome Toby in a tone 
 of deep dejection. " He has long loved the girl. You 
 know that he wrote a part expressly for her? Didn't 
 you know that ? My daughter is to create the role at 
 one of the first theaters of Berlin. The play is called 
 The Blackguard" 
 
 Florian started. " Good God, that's a strong title ! " 
 
 " Hm, yes, there's marrow and force in it," assented 
 Tomatschek meditatively. Then he slowly blew forth 
 a mouthful of smoke and began to whisper again: 
 " Would you advise me to telegraph to his wife ? " 
 
 " How ? What's that ? Whose wife ? " 
 
 " Why, the baron's wife of course. I had thought 
 of wording it something like this : ' My daughter just 
 abducted by your husband. Will you move for di-
 
 278 Florian Mayr 
 
 vorce? Otherwise proceedings on my part.' How 
 does that strike you ? " 
 
 " Oh, ' proceedings ' strikes me as splendid," replied 
 Florian, scarcely able to restrain his laughter. 
 
 "Hm," murmured the " violin-king," growing 
 thoughtful again, " you understand :. honor above every- 
 thing, one cannot allow oneself to be trifled with. 
 For the rest I quite understand the baron's motive; in 
 his place I should run away with my daughter my- 
 self. Oh, Libussa is wonderful woman! The baron 
 discovered her phenomenal talent at once. It goes 
 without saying that she would have made her way even 
 without this marriage." 
 
 " What marriage ? " inquired Florian completely puz- 
 zled. 
 
 " Why of course the baron will marry her when he 
 has obtained his divorce ! " 
 
 " Oh, I see, I had already forgotten that the baron 
 was going to get a divorce," replied Florian, chuckling 
 to himself. 
 
 Peter Gais had just taken a deep draught from his 
 glass which he now replaced upon the table with a vigor- 
 ous bang, uttering as he did so in a loud clear voice the 
 single word "Rot!" 
 
 Raphael Silberstein looked up at him with enthu- 
 siasm as if expecting a further revelation and since the 
 " devoted friend " as well as the gentlemen present cast 
 inquiring glances towards him, the Titan was at last 
 moved to explain himself a little more in detail. He 
 made a rather long speech which was by no means co- 
 herent but the gist of which seemed to be that it was 
 the highest time that Liszt and Wagner should be su- 
 perseded.
 
 A Wiedersehen 279 
 
 " They are already superseded," remarked Kaphael 
 Silberstein as if that were something quite obvious, at 
 the same time regarding the Titan with a look of tender 
 adoration in his soft eyes. With Satan you have left 
 the Gotterdammerung far behind." 
 
 "My dear Silberstein, you always think you must 
 become personal at once," said the creator of Satan, 
 reprimanding his disciple. " A just estimate of my 
 position in the history of music cannot be formed for 
 twenty years to come. For this I am quite prepared." 
 
 At this moment the " devoted friend " discovered 
 Baron von Eied and Fraulein Libussa making their way 
 among the tables in search of the party. They rose and 
 beckoned till they attracted the attention of the couple 
 who thereupon joined them. All kinds of teasing re- 
 marks were made but neither the baron nor the Fraulein 
 was particularly embarrassed by them. They declared 
 with innocent unconcern that they had taken a little 
 walk together. Libussa looked wonderfully pretty. 
 Her eyes sparkled and she even had some color. She 
 ate her supper with excellent appetite and carried on 
 an animated conversation with both Florian and the 
 baron. Papa Tomatschek scrutinized her narrowly and 
 did not seem to know exactly what to make of her be- 
 havior. The baron, too, was in splendid spirits and 
 soon made the conversation flow freely. It was not 
 long before the whole company was in the thick of a 
 fierce battle for Peter Gais's assertions became more 
 and more extravagant and by midnight it had gone so 
 far that every claim to honor, civic or other, had been 
 denied to every illustrious man of the century. It 
 was a wholesale slaughter, such as the kings of Da- 
 homey were wont to make in celebration of their ac-
 
 280 Florian Mayr 
 
 cession to the throne. The upshot of it all was that 
 Peter Gais sat enthroned alone as the one solitary genius 
 of his time. At first the baron had earnestly opposed 
 these extravagant statements but later he had recourse 
 to irony, whereas Florian lost his temper at once and 
 became insolent. A little more and the dispute would 
 have ended in personal violence. Raphael Silberstein 
 had already declared that only consideration for the 
 ladies had deterred him from challenging Florian and 
 the baron to a saber duel. At this Libussa had play- 
 fully hurled a beer-mat at his nose and this affront he 
 swore to avenge on her father. In short it proved to 
 be a thoroughly jolly evening and they parted at a late 
 hour filled with rage.
 
 CHAPTEE XIV 
 The Judgment 
 
 IN spite of the long duration of the evening symposium, 
 Florian appeared at his Master's house next morning 
 at the usual time. It is true, he was not feeling quite 
 fit. The outrageous heresies of the great Peter Gais 
 produced worse effects than the small amount of alcohol 
 that he had imbibed. !!^or was Liszt, either, in very 
 good spirits. He too had gone to bed very late, and 
 moreover had been thrown a little off his spiritual equi- 
 librium by the performance of his Legend. He 
 grumbled a bit as he thought of the evening before. 
 
 " A work of that kind has no place on the stage," he 
 growled. " It's not done with my consent. One 
 shouldn't stare at Saint Elizabeth through an opera- 
 glass. But what can one do with these theater in- 
 tendants? They wish to do me honor, pchah! and 
 since I yielded once to the wishes of your King Lud- 
 wig, of course I can't refuse our good Grand Duke. 
 Well, now his intendant has once more proved to the 
 world that Liszt cannot write an opera ! " 
 
 Florian endeavored to lead the Master's thoughts 
 into another direction by giving him a humorous ac- 
 count of last night's battle of words between Peter 
 Gais and the baron. But Liszt was not in the humor 
 for laughing. On the contrary, he grew still more se- 
 rious and remarked that he remembered Peter Gais 
 well ; he had found a good deal of force and originality 
 281
 
 282 Florian Mayr 
 
 in his earlier works, and had expected great things of 
 him; but now Gais seemed to have succumbed to the 
 illusion of greatness, the melancholy fate of strong ar- 
 tistic natures that have failed of success. A few un- 
 questioning worshippers, who confirmed the misunder- 
 stood genius in his illusion, often had a worse effect 
 upon him than complete seclusion. 
 
 " I will tell you something, my dear Saint Florian," 
 he said, a melancholy smile playing about his mouth. 
 " The artist's mission is sublime but sad. He is 
 driven with demoniac force to a complete sacrifice to 
 the public. Those queer wights, who, like dwarfs of 
 the underworld, fashion rich ornaments with the sweat 
 of their brows and carefully hide them away from the 
 light of day in the crevasses of rocks, they are not 
 artistic natures never in this world! The artist 
 must go out with his work into the bright sunlight, and 
 when the people reject his gifts with scorn a feeling 
 of such bitter sadness comes over him as perhaps no 
 other human heart can feel. I have not been spared 
 this fate. I have been cruelly reproached for not con- 
 tenting myself with being admired as the most brilliant 
 virtuoso of my time. I invented something new 
 the symphonic poem. But people would have liked 
 better to have me stick to my piano-last, like a regular 
 cobbler. They find it perfectly reasonable that a nose- 
 specialist needn't know what nerves there are in the 
 great toe, but when a musician wishes to write poetry 
 without words they call it an impertinence. I am 
 well aware that my works are always performed on 
 my account alone, and not for the public. Ah, yes in- 
 deed, believe me, I have tasted the bitterness of the ar- 
 tist's lot ! But I have at least one consolation which has
 
 The Judgment 283 
 
 prevented me from falling into the sourness of the mis- 
 understood j it is the consciousness of having furnished 
 you younger ones with a fruitful incentive, and be- 
 yond that the joy of having lived to witness the tri- 
 umph of the ' Stronger one.' But come now, we 
 are dawdling away our valuable time. A young man 
 brought me a manuscript yesterday. He's coming this 
 morning at nine for my opinion, because he has no 
 time to wait. So we must hurry or we shall catch it ! " 
 
 He laughed with good-natured irony and opened a 
 manuscript score bound in green morocco leather. He 
 had not glanced over more than a page or two before 
 he involuntarily knit his bushy brows. Then he went 
 to the piano with the score, placed it on the rack and 
 called upon Florian to play it. 
 
 Florian sat down obediently on the piano-stool and 
 began by reading the title: 
 
 " Finis Poloniae, 
 Symphonic Poem by Antonine Prczewalski." 
 
 " Well, upon my word ! " growled Florian under his 
 breath. He gave, however, no intimation whatever of 
 his acquaintance with the composer. He looked 
 sharply at the notes and raised his hands to strike the 
 keys. Then he let them fall again, bent forward to 
 examine the music more carefully and finally exclaimed 
 with a laugh, " I beg your pardon, Master, that's too 
 high for me ! " 
 
 " For me too ! " laughed Liszt. " Oho, the young 
 man may congratulate himself; he has written some- 
 thing that I can't play ! " 
 
 The piece began with several bars for the strings 
 alone in the highest possible position. But the high
 
 284 Florian Mayr 
 
 notes were not, as is customary, scored in the octave 
 below, but were written out with innumerable strokes 
 through the note-stems. Then Liszt sat down at the 
 piano and, leaving out the illegible introduction, played 
 more than half the manuscript through. The work 
 proved to be a totally impossible, mawkish hodgepodge 
 of sounds. At last Liszt angrily slammed the cover 
 to and declared that he would not waste his time on this 
 talentless fellow. 
 
 Antonine Prczewalski made his appearance promptly 
 at nine o'clock. He had made a very careful toilette 
 and evidently given especially loving attention to his 
 hair and mustache. He made the Master a bow, and 
 then, brushing back his locks, fixed a look of lofty dis- 
 approval upon Florian, as much as to say, " Thou art 
 superfluous here, slave. Depart! Here creative souls 
 wish to immerse themselves in the mysteries of their 
 art!" 
 
 Florian perfectly understood that his presence at the 
 judgment which was now about to descend upon the 
 singer of " Poland's End " would be painful to him, 
 and, much as he disliked the fellow, he still wished to 
 spare him this humiliation. He therefore asked per- 
 mission to withdraw, but the Master directed him to 
 remain, saying that he had work for him later. 
 
 Liszt's countenance wore an ominous expression as he 
 requested the handsome Antonine to begin by explain- 
 ing to him the poetic ideas upon which the composition 
 was based. The poor sinner became very much em- 
 barrassed. He snorted loudly through his nose and 
 mumbled a number of disjointed, obscure phrases: 
 " Oh, I did not have really ideas only feelings mu- 
 sic is all feeling khn so it is the feelings of the
 
 The Judgment 285 
 
 noble Pole over the fall of his beautiful fatherland 
 and so forth, you understand : at the last he exhorts his 
 wife and child to fidelity khn khn the national 
 idea and so forth you understand ? But always 
 first and foremost the deep suffering of the soul ! " 
 
 Liszt's face darkened in a way that Florian had 
 never before seen. He pointed peremptorily to the 
 piano-stool and said, " Play me that part where the 
 noble Pole exhorts wife and child, pchah ! " 
 
 Prczewalski sat down at the instrument and wiped 
 his white forehead with his hand. Then he looked 
 through his manuscript for awhile and finally played 
 a page or two. Suddenly Liszt stepped up from be- 
 hind, turned the manuscript over to the first page in the 
 very midst of Prczewalski's playing and said imperi- 
 ously, " Thank you, that will do ! now play that ! " 
 
 With trembling hands Antonine produced a senseless 
 jingle on the highest keys. After a few measures Liszt 
 called a halt and inquired what that meant. Antonine 
 could find no reply ; he gagged and snorted and stared 
 at the notes with such an expression of misery that 
 even Florian pitied him. 
 
 But Liszt kept at him. " I will tell you what it 
 is," he cried. " It's just a jumble of Polish non- 
 sense ! One doesn't write such notes don't you know 
 that ? If you don't feel the meaning of music, then 
 don't write music." Then he turned over to another 
 page, pointed with his finger to a line and asked, " Why 
 do you use the English horn here ? " 
 
 Prczewalski was hurt. He was not going to allow 
 himself to be treated like this, especially in the pres- 
 ence of such a witness ; and so he gave his head a toss 
 and replied as defiantly as his insipid nature would
 
 286 Florian Mayr 
 
 allow, " Oh, excuse me, in such a work full orches- 
 tra Finis Poloniae klm you must use the Eng- 
 lish horn, too ! " 
 
 " You are an insolent fellow ! " roared Liszt with a 
 sudden outburst of passion. He grabbed the thin score 
 from the rack and, before the handsome Antonine knew 
 what was coming, he got the green book whack ! slap ! 
 
 right and left over the ears. 
 
 Frightened to death, Antonine fled towards the door, 
 holding up both hands to protect his head. On the 
 threshold he turned and, shaking his fist threateningly 
 at Florian, cried out, half choked with fury, " Villain, 
 you villain, I have to thank you for this ! Oh, I will 
 
 I will !" But as Liszt and the so unjustly 
 accused Florian both made a rapid movement in the 
 direction of the door, Prczewalski left his threat un- 
 finished and fled precipitately from the room. 
 
 Breathing heavily, Liszt stood there with his left 
 hand on his forehead and the green book still in his 
 trembling right. 
 
 "What happened?" he asked quite sadly. "I 
 struck him! Shame! Shame! I forgot myself! 
 Quick, Florian, run after him and take him his book. 
 He must forgive me. Tell him I will But no ! 
 It was villainous ! l Poland's End ? indeed ! Yes, to 
 be sure it would be, if all Poles manufactured such 
 music as that! How can he help it that he's not an 
 artist? His father ought to have chastised him, not 
 I. I did wrong. Eun, Florian, run tell him 
 that!" 
 
 Florian caught up the score and ran out with it. 
 He was stopped in the anteroom by Secretary Spir- 
 idion, whose attention had been attracted by the Mas-
 
 The Judgment 287 
 
 ter's scolding, and who had heard the slaps distinctly. 
 He would have liked to learn more about the unprec- 
 edented affair, for, as long as he had been in Liszt's 
 service, he had never known his good Master to give 
 way to such a passion. Spiridion had watched the 
 ejected Pole with curiosity from the window, and no- 
 ticed that after some hesitation, he had left the street 
 and turned into the Park. In four great bounds Flo- 
 rian sprang down the stairs, ran round the Hofgartnerei 
 and down the nearest Park avenue. At the first path 
 crossing he looked about him and discovered poor An- 
 tonine not a hundred yards distant, staggering along 
 in the vicinity of the Roman House. 
 
 Florian broke into a trot. When he was within 
 twenty paces of Prczewalski the latter turned and hardly 
 had time to recognize his enemy before he started as 
 fast as his short legs could carry him along the nearest 
 path, which led down the steep slope to the lower 
 Park. It was of no avail that Florian called after 
 him, " Here you, hold up a moment ! You forgot your 
 manuscript ! " Antonine took no notice but ran on 
 down until he was in the valley of the Una. There 
 Florian came up with him and caught him by the 
 coat-tails. 
 
 " You run for all the world like a bad conscience ! " 
 he gasped breathlessly. 
 
 Antonine turned and held up his umbrella across his 
 face, as if to defend himself. Breathing heavily, the 
 two enemies looked each other in the eye. Fury 
 mingled with fear distorted Antonine's flabby features. 
 Florian held out the green morocco book and burst out 
 laughing. 
 
 " Well, my fine hero," he cried, " do you want to
 
 288 Florian Mayr 
 
 pitch into me just because I bring you back your 
 things? Here, take it, will you? The Master says 
 to give you his compliments and he's very sorry he took 
 the trouble to use his own hands. I'm sorry too he 
 didn't leave it to me ! " 
 
 Antonine grabbed the score and started off down the 
 path, but suddenly he turned about and rushed at 
 Florian with upraised umbrella, shrieking in a voice 
 half stifled with rage, 
 
 " You dirty dog, you ! I have to thank you for 
 this You talked against me ! Ah, psia Tcrew ! " 
 And raising his umbrella on high he aimed a furious 
 blow at his enemy's head. Florian parried it with his 
 left arm and instantly countered with a resounding slap 
 of his right hand across Antonine's face. 
 
 " What's that, you miserable cur ? " he cried. 
 " What did you say ? I talked against you to the Mas- 
 ter ? No, no, my dear boy, there was no need of that, 
 after such filthy music as you write! But I'm glad 
 all the same to get an opportunity to give you the 
 licking I've been owing you for breaking your word 
 of honor. You'll have the goodness to remember that 
 receipt, I hope ? All right ! Now I'll just square our 
 little account ! " And at the same time by way of 
 punctuation-marks for this short but sharp harangue, 
 an avalanche of slaps and punches descended upon the 
 handsome Antonine. First his hand would fly to his 
 tingling cheek and then he would double up from a 
 blow in the stomach or stagger with a yell of pain from 
 a punch in the shoulder, meanwhile striking out wildly 
 with his umbrella at his opponent or endeavoring to de- 
 fend himself with his other arm against Florian's 
 blows. At last Florian yanked the umbrella out of his
 
 The Judgment 289 
 
 hand, gave him a sounding thwack with it across the 
 back, and followed this up with a well-directed punch 
 on the noble nose, from which the red blood spurted. 
 Then he felt better. 
 
 He desisted from his attack and looked on unmoved 
 while the unfortunate Antonine picked up umbrella, 
 hat, and the tattered manuscript of " Finis Poloniae " 
 from the ground, and, whimpering and cursing with 
 pain and anger, wiped his bleeding nose with his dainty 
 handkerchief. 
 
 " There ! " cried the elated Florian ; " you owed me 
 ten marks and I owed you a licking now we two are 
 quits ! " 
 
 Then, seeing pedestrians approaching, he turned and 
 with elastic step reascended the same slope by which 
 he had come. Once on the top he paused a bit to get 
 his breath. He was in extraordinarily good spirits, 
 exactly as though he had done some especially good 
 deed. He thrust his hands into his pockets and 
 strolled on whistling contentedly. He tried to imagine 
 the joy of Antonine's prospective mother-in-law at 
 sight of her darling boy, and what kind of an account 
 of his painful adventure he would give. Thekla, 
 Florian made no manner of doubt, would send up a 
 prayer of thanksgiving that her hated persecutor had 
 been chastised by a practiced hand. 
 
 But Florian's mirthful humor lasted only until he 
 arrived at the entrance of the Hofgartnerei ; for then 
 it suddenly occurred to him that he had carried out his 
 Master's commission in a most extraordinary manner. 
 Without doubt the good old gentleman was walking up 
 and down his room in a state of agitation, bitterly re- 
 proaching himself for his lack of self-control and anx-
 
 290 Florian Mayr 
 
 iously awaiting the messenger who should bring him 
 the reassuring news that the insulted one, even if he 
 had not granted it, had at least received the Master's 
 request for forgiveness. And now Florian had to re- 
 port that, in addition to the Master's cuffs, he had given 
 the fellow a sound thrashing! No, that would not do 
 at all. In that case it would be no wonder if he got 
 his own ears boxed for his pains. He was suddenly 
 overcome by an absolutely childish fear, and he slunk 
 away from Liszt's door like a bad boy, who, conscious 
 of having done wrong, dares not come into the presence 
 of his teacher. He went home, threw himself on the 
 lounge and pondered. 
 
 Something less than half an hour had passed with- 
 out his being able to come to a decision, when there 
 came a knock at his door, and in response to his " come 
 in," the rotund little figure of Consul Burmester ap- 
 peared upon the threshold. Florian jumped up from 
 the lounge and cried in a tone of the greatest astonish- 
 ment, "The consul!" 
 
 The little gentleman came forward with an em- 
 barrassed smile and said, as he wiped the perspiration 
 from his bald spot with his red silk handkerchief, 
 " Yes, it is, indeed, it may appear somewhat strange 
 to you that I have taken the liberty of calling, Herr 
 Mayr, but er " 
 
 " Oh, then you know already ? " exclaimed Florian 
 nonplussed. 
 
 "Why, of course!" replied Herr Burmester. "I 
 saw you at the station and yesterday at the theater. 
 The head-waiter found out your address for me. I 
 the fact is I wanted that is to say, my wife 
 thought I really never had anything against you,
 
 The Judgment 291 
 
 Herr Mayr Bless me, that trifling what shall I 
 call it? aberration in regard to my daughter was 
 really not so very bad, haha! Of course my wife 
 well, you understand, as the mother, you know " 
 
 Florian put an end to the consul's stuttering embar- 
 rassment by seating him in his place on the sofa, while 
 he himself took a chair opposite, bending far over the 
 table in his curiosity to learn what had brought the 
 little man to him. 
 
 " So you really don't know about it yet ? " he asked 
 with significant emphasis. 
 
 " About what ? " inquired the consul. " Oh, pos- 
 sibly you mean the accident to Herr Prczewalski? 
 Just fancy, the poor fellow was about to call on Liszt 
 this morning to ask for invitations for us all to his 
 soiree this evening, when he stumbled on the stairs and 
 fell down the whole flight, think of that! He banged 
 himself up terribly and had to go to bed at once. You 
 must surely have heard of the accident ? Yes, and 
 as my wife has set her heart on going to the soiree, I 
 wanted to ask you if you wouldn't have the great kind- 
 ness to secure invitations for us ? " 
 
 "Well, my dear consul," replied Florian vastly 
 amused, " I fear I shall not be able to do much in that 
 direction either. Matters of that kind are usually ar- 
 ranged for the Master by the ladies ; but I'll do what I 
 can if you will promise me to bring Fraulein Thekla 
 with you and leave Herr Prczewalski at home." 
 
 This the consul promised very willingly and Florian 
 took him at once to the Hofgartnerei. He left him in 
 the anteroom while he himself went in to the Master 
 to ask for the invitations. 
 
 Liszt was not especially pleased at the interruption,
 
 292 Florian Mayr 
 
 and listened but superficially to what Florian told him 
 about his pupil and her parents, the enthusiastic Berlin 
 music-lovers, and immediately put his name to a card 
 of invitation made out in blank. Florian "was on the 
 point of withdrawing, when Liszt stopped him with an 
 inquiry as to what the composer of " Finis Poloniae " 
 had said to his message. 
 
 " Oh, sir," answered Florian crestfallen, " I took it 
 to him all right, but then he said I was to blame for 
 the slaps he got and he struck me, and so well I 
 punched his head and gave him such a jolly good 
 pounding that you would have cried for joy, sir ! " 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Liszt, knitting his brows. But 
 he had to laugh in spite of himself. He playfully 
 caught the gaunt youth by the ear and said, " Ah ! ah ! 
 Florian, Saint Florian, when are we going to be sensi- 
 ble ? Furor teutonicus, haha ! If we could cure every- 
 body who makes bad music by thrashing him we should 
 have to appoint you head physician ! " And he dis- 
 missed him with a gracious smile. 
 
 Beaming with joy Florian returned to the anteroom, 
 filled in the names upon the invitations and accom- 
 panied the consul back to his hotel. On the way he 
 inquired quite casually whether Herr Burmester still 
 had the paper in his possession that Thekla had given 
 him at Florian's request at the Countess Tockenburg's 
 soiree. The consul remembered this incident and in- 
 quired why he asked ; whereupon Florian related under 
 what circumstances Prczewalski had signed the agree- 
 ment, by which he promised on his word of honor not 
 to give Fraulein Thekla piano lessons. 
 
 " And, you know," concluded Florian, " there was an
 
 The Judgment 293 
 
 additional verbal clause agreed on, to the effect that, 
 if the fine gentleman broke his word, I should have the 
 right to call him a low-lived blackguard and thrash him 
 soundly. Well, and so this morning we settled the 
 score. Do you understand the story about falling down 
 stairs now ? Oh, yes, hinc illae lacrimae ! " 
 
 The consul stopped short and looked up at the .lank 
 youth with honest admiration. 
 
 " You gave my er son-in-law a licking ? Why, 
 that is splendid ! 2s"o, nonsense ! I mean that 
 is, I don't mind telling you quite confidentially, I ab- 
 solutely loathe the fellow. My dear Herr Mayr, what 
 a remarkable person you are ! You strike my daugh- 
 ter and since that time she worships you. You thrash 
 my son-in-law and I feel like embracing you for it. 
 I shouldn't wonder if you thrashed me before you got 
 through, hahaha ! " 
 
 " May well be, Herr Consul, may well be ! " threat- 
 ened Florian playfully. " If you really give your 
 daughter to that dishrag I won't take any responsi- 
 bility!" 
 
 " I don't want to either ! " cried the little man 
 earnestly, thrusting his arm through Florian's. " If 
 it hadn't been for me they would probably have been 
 married already. You know, my wife " he subdued 
 his voice to a whisper "my wife insists on having 
 an artist in the family, and for some extraordinary rea- 
 son she expects great things of this fellow, because he 
 understands how to worm himself into the best families. 
 And then there is another reason. Thekla was to be 
 a musical genius at any price, and, since nothing at all 
 has come of that, my wife can't abide the poor girl
 
 294 Florian Mayr 
 
 any more and would like to get rid of her as soon as 
 possible. After all she is not her own mother I am 
 not her own father either; we merely adopted her." 
 
 " Indeed ! " cried Florian in astonishment. 
 
 " But she is really such a good child, and I love her 
 as if she were my own ! " 
 
 "Of course, and you won't give her to that idiot, 
 will you ? " cried Florian earnestly. 
 
 " Sh ! " said the consul apprehensively. " You are 
 not married, my young friend; you don't know what 
 sacrifices a man will consent to in order to have peace 
 and quiet in the house ! " 
 
 " Do you know, Herr Consul," exclaimed Florian, 
 " I^hink I know what I'd do if my wife disturbed my 
 peace like that ! " And he made a very significant 
 gesture. 
 
 They had now arrived in the vicinity of the 
 "Russischer Hof." The consul looked round on all 
 sides and up at the windows of the hotel. He evidently 
 feared that his wife would be angry if she saw him 
 talking in such a confidential manner with Herr Mayr. 
 He took a markedly hasty leave of Florian and thanked 
 him once more for the invitations. 
 
 Florian shook his hand cordially and said, " Please 
 give my very best regards to Fraulein Thekla, and tell 
 her I shall be awfully glad to see her to-night. Now, 
 sir, if there's any way in which I can be of service to 
 you it needn't be exactly by thrashing anybody, you 
 know, what little I can do is always yours to com- 
 mand, if it will do Fraulein Thekla any good." And 
 so saying he took off his hat with an airy flourish and 
 strolled home well content. 
 
 He looked forward to the evening with childish an-
 
 The Judgment 295 
 
 ticipation. What would Frau Bunnester say when 
 she learned whom her chosen son-in-law had to thank 
 for his swollen nose and his black and blue spots ? If 
 the consul should not pluck up courage to tell her, she 
 should hear about it this evening from Florian's own 
 lips. First she should thank him in due form for the 
 invitation, and then he would describe to her how he 
 had chastised the handsome Antonine. Oh, he would 
 revel in her rage ! And he would stick to Thekla like 
 a burr. They might do what they liked but they should 
 not shake him off. 
 
 As seven o'clock approached, the hour at which the 
 soiree at Liszt's was to begin, a feverish impatience 
 seized upon Florian. Half-past six found him ready 
 for the fray, combed and shaved and attired in evening 
 dress and white tie, and from that time he looked at 
 his watch every five minutes to see whether it wasn't 
 yet time to go. At ten minutes to seven he could not 
 longer control his impatience and rushed over to the 
 Hofgartnerei as if he feared he was already behind 
 time. Of course he was the first to arrive; in fact 
 more than twenty minutes passed before the first 
 guests appeared. Meanwhile he arranged with Liszt 
 that he should play one of the Master's Rhapsodies in 
 place of Fraulein Ilonka Badacs, who shortly before 
 had asked to be excused. 
 
 " She has probably gone on another urgent little 
 trip ! " added Liszt, regarding Florian with a quizzical 
 smile. The young man blushed a little, to be sure, 
 but nevertheless made out to smile in his turn, where- 
 upon the Master pressed his hand and exclaimed with 
 satisfaction, "Ah, I see you have fought it down! 
 Bravo, my son ! "
 
 296 Florian Mayr 
 
 Towards half-past seven appeared the Grand Duke, 
 the Hereditary Grand Duke and consort and the 
 Princess Elizabeth, together with several ladies and 
 gentlemen of their household. Liszt introduced to the 
 sovereigns a number of guests of honor and also several 
 of his pupils, the last being his faithful Saint Florian, 
 whom he recommended warmly to the Grand Duke, in 
 consequence of which the latter said several kind things 
 to the young Bayreuther and expressed the hope to hear 
 a demonstration of his art in the course of the evening. 
 Florian stepped back with a deep bow from before the 
 Grand Duke, and, as he turned round, found himself 
 standing just in front of Consul Burmester and his 
 wife, who had pressed forward, in order, if possible, 
 to catch something of what the Grand Duke was saying. 
 
 Before Florian could open his mouth to say " good 
 evening," Frau Burmester spoke to him in a tone of icy 
 politeness with a sour, affected smile. 
 
 " We are very much obliged to you, Herr Mayr, for 
 the invitations to this interesting evening. To be sure 
 it was only a trifle for you; I see you are in great 
 favor here." 
 
 " Me ? Oh, thank you, I can't complain," answered 
 Florian indifferently. " But where is your daughter, 
 please? I don't see Fraulein Thekla! " 
 
 With a smile of the purest malice Frau Burmester 
 replied, "No, my daughter regrets deeply to have to 
 give up meeting her stern master again, but she found 
 herself really unable to accompany us." 
 
 " Why, what's the meaning of that ? " exclaimed 
 Florian, flaring up. He measured the little consul with 
 a look that said plainly, " Is that the way you keep 
 your promise ? " And, as the poor man could answer
 
 The Judgment 297 
 
 only with a helpless gesture of regret, he turned again 
 to Frau Olga and said in a low but distinct voice, 
 "Aha, now I understand, madam, Fraulein Thekla 
 is obliged to stay at home and nurse dear Antonine! 
 I wonder whether the model young man told you how 
 the Master expressed his opinion on the subject of 
 ' Poland's End ' ? Well, I gave him mine in very 
 plain hand-writing, or rather fist-writing to take home 
 with him beautifully black and blue, and a bleeding 
 nose for an exclamation-point at the end! And I put 
 my trade-mark on both his cheeks right under the Mas- 
 ter's whacks ! " And he held up his gigantic hand 
 with the fingers spread out. 
 
 The Frau Consul turned pale under her rouge. Her 
 eyes flashed green like a cat's in the dark, and she hissed 
 at Florian in fury, " You dared to lay hands on our 
 son-in-law ? Incredible ! If we had known that, we 
 certainly would not have stooped to request you to 
 assist us ! You will have to answer to the law for this 
 assault my husband will see to that ! And I will 
 have the matter published in the newspapers! Come, 
 Willy, from now on this person does not exist for us ! " 
 So saying she grasped the arm of her husband, who mur- 
 mured something incoherent, and steered him through 
 the crowd to the other side of the drawing-room. 
 
 Florian stood quite a while in the same place, gazing 
 after the pair with a smile of grim derision. He 
 neither saw nor heard what was going on round him. 
 He reflected and suddenly his mind was made up. 
 The Grand Ducal party sat down and the other guests 
 followed their example, as many as could find seats. A 
 half circle was formed round the grand piano. The 
 concert was clearly about to begin.
 
 298 Florian Mayr 
 
 Florian hurried up to Liszt just as he was on the 
 point of asking a lady to go to the piano, and begged 
 him excitedly to allow him to play first. Liszt gazed 
 at him in surprise. 
 
 ''Why, what's the matter, my dear boy? You are 
 all wrought up ! " 
 
 " Yes, sir, I hardly know myself the heat I 
 don't feel so very well I shall have to go home pretty 
 soon!" 
 
 " Hm, hm ! A little shaky from last night and the 
 excitement of this morning pchah, I understand ! 
 Well, as you like! You are trembling! Oho, stage- 
 fright, Florian ? " 
 
 " No, Master, I am all right now, but later " 
 
 And so the Master accompanied him to the piano. 
 Silence ensued immediately, and Florian struck the 
 keys. He developed an astonishing amount of power, 
 the wrathful irritation that had put his nerves on edge 
 coming out in his playing in the form of tempestuous 
 passion. The more delicate passages, to be sure, were 
 less successful, and once or twice he even struck a 
 totally wrong note. Nevertheless the impression made 
 by the performance as a whole was overwhelming and 
 he was rewarded with great applause. Several en- 
 thusiastic flatterers even compared his playing to that 
 of Rubinstein, and he also received flattering recogni- 
 tion from the members of the Grand Ducal party. 
 Liszt took him aside and whispered jocosely, " Well, 
 well, Saint Florian, you have put your hands in the 
 wrong place more than once to-day! No doubt you 
 fancied you had the Polish composer with the long name 
 in front of you you banged the keys so mercilessly !
 
 The Judgment 299 
 
 But all the same bravo ! " With that he gave the 
 young man a light slap on the shoulder and let him go. 
 
 As soon as the next piece had begun Florian retired 
 to the anteroom, and, the moment he saw no one was 
 looking, slipped out. He sprang down the stairs as 
 if he were being chased, and ran, rather than walked, 
 to the " Eussischer Hof." There he got from the porter 
 the number of the Burmesters' rooms, learned that the 
 Fraulein was at home and ascended the stairs with 
 beating heart. He waited in the corridor until he got 
 hold of a chambermaid, whom he took aside cautiously, 
 and, putting a thaler into her hand, sent to find out 
 whether Thekla was alone in her room or in the com- 
 pany of Herr Prczewalski. 
 
 The maid nodded intelligently and began by going 
 into the Burmesters' sitting-room after knocking and 
 hearing the words, " Come in." In a few seconds she 
 reappeared giggling and reported to Florian that the 
 Polish gentleman was standing at the door of the 
 Fraulein' s bed-room trying to look through the key- 
 hole, and was begging the Fraulein piteously to unlock 
 the door or to come in to him again. He was so ex- 
 cited that he didn't notice he was being watched. 
 Florian then told the girl to knock at Thekla's door. 
 
 " Who's there ? " asked a voice from within. 
 
 " The chambermaid ! " 
 
 Quick steps were heard and then the bolt was drawn 
 back inside. Then Florian came forward quickly, 
 pushed the maid aside, tiptoed across the threshold, 
 and stood in Thekla's room. Taking off his hat with 
 a low, " God bless you, Fraulein ! " he held out his 
 open arms to her. She started back with a low cry,
 
 300 Florian Mayr 
 
 clasped her head in both hands and gazed up at him 
 in charming confusion. 
 
 " Oh, Herr Mayr ! " she murmured in such a genuine 
 tone of the most joyful surprise that Florian's heart 
 was in his mouth. He went a step nearer and then 
 all at once her dark little head lay on his shoulder and 
 her body shook with a succession of sobs. 
 
 He bent her head back gently with both hands, looked 
 lovingly into her eyes, and whispered, "Please don't 
 cry now, dear girl I will help you ! " 
 
 Then the tears gushed from her eyes and she sobbed 
 aloud, " Oh, I'm so awfully unhappy ! " 
 
 Florian was about to say more words of comfort 
 when a loud sniffling and snorting was heard from the 
 other side of the sitting-room door. And then 
 Prczewalski called out, in an oddly constrained voice 
 that evidently came through a swollen nose, " Thekla 
 darling, my little heart, why cry then ? Merciful 
 Father, just come in here ! I will be so good to you ! " 
 
 Thekla freed herself from Florian's arms, stamped 
 angrily with her foot and whispered softly, " Come 
 away quick ! I know what I'll do ! " 
 
 " I know what we'll do too ! " replied Florian just as 
 softly. " Put on your prettiest evening gown I will 
 wait downstairs and then I'll take you to Liszt in tri- 
 umph ! Lord, that'll be a lark ! How Frau Bur- 
 mester will stare ! I'll take all the consequences no- 
 body shall touch you ! " 
 
 " No, no, that won't do ! " exclaimed Thekla, shak- 
 ing her head energetically. " "What good will that do ? 
 I'm going away and never coming back! There, my 
 bag is already packed ! " She seized a small valise al- 
 ready locked, thrust it into Florian's hands and said,
 
 The Judgment 301 
 
 as she pushed him towards the door, " Go, please I 
 Take that for me ! Wait for me at the station I'll 
 come right after you ! " 
 
 He tried to make objections, to ask questions, but she 
 only motioned him the more strenuously towards the 
 door, so that there was nothing for him to do but to 
 obey her and steal away as noiselessly as possible with 
 the bag. 
 
 Over opposite the hotel in the shadow of the trees he 
 waited, but before five minutes had passed he saw 
 Thekla come out. He allowed her to get a short start 
 and then caught up with her with giant strides. She 
 started with fright and at first would not hear of his 
 walking at her side. But he was able to reassure her 
 by the reminder, that she had almost no acquaintances 
 at all in the place and his were gathered almost without 
 exception at the Liszt soiree. He also endeavored, as 
 they walked along, to persuade her to adopt his original 
 plan and appear suddenly at the soiree leaning on his 
 arm. He had painted for himself the disconcerting 
 effect on the Frau Consul of such a stroke of genius in 
 such fascinating colors, that he was loath to give up 
 the idea. But Thekla objected, quite reasonably, that 
 the consequences of such an exploit could only be 
 calamitous for her. Her mother would only be much 
 stricter with her, and whether the humiliation to which 
 Florian had subjected her fiance would be sufficient to 
 break off the engagement, that was very doubtful, to 
 say the least, although, it was true, even her mother had 
 begun to be dissatisfied with Prczewalski of late. 
 
 " What, you are surely not publicly betrothed ? " ex- 
 claimed Florian incredulously. 
 
 " Oh, dear, yes ! " replied Thekla quite mournfully.
 
 302 Morian Mayr 
 
 " Please, please, Herr Mayr, don't think ill of me for 
 that ! Of course I can't abide the man, but mamma 
 gave me no peace. She said I needn't think, with my 
 parentage and my lack of talent, that I could sit down 
 and wait for a prince. She threw it up at me just 
 as meanly as she could that I was the daughter of a 
 chambermaid and a traveling musician ; and I might 
 at least show my gratitude for all she had done for me 
 by leaving the choice of a suitable husband to her. 
 With my born love of frivolity and my liking for com- 
 mon people I might be expected to do all sorts of silly 
 things. Oh, Herr Mayr, I ask you you know me 
 too I am not frivolous one little bit, am I ? " 
 
 " You poor little girl ! " was all that Florian said in 
 reply. 
 
 And Thekla, happy to be able at last to pour out her 
 heart, continued with animation, 
 
 "Papa was always on my side and at first he 
 wouldn't hear of the engagement, but in the long run 
 nobody can stand against mamma. At last I came to 
 the conclusion that anything would be better than this 
 terrible state of things in the house, that's not my own 
 parents' house. It's true, I did think of running away, 
 but how could I have supported myself alone ? In spite 
 of all the expensive lessons I never learned anything by 
 which I could earn a living, and mamma warned me 
 often enough that I shouldn't have a penny from home 
 if I didn't obey her in every way. Then I must con- 
 fess, I haven't much courage ; why, I've never in my life 
 been allowed to do anything alone. Everything I liked 
 to do was forbidden, and everything that I was allowed 
 to do I had to do by rule and while they were watching 
 me. Of course that makes one as dependent as a child.
 
 The Judgment 303 
 
 Prczewalski was quite nice to me too, as far as that's 
 concerned. He promised me on his honor that, as his 
 wife, I should do just as I liked. I shouldn't have to 
 play the piano any more and was to have two hundred 
 marks a month pocket-money, without anybody even 
 asking how I spent it. And all the other girls thought 
 he was such a good-looking man and so very dangerous 
 for the ladies they all fell in love with him. So at 
 last I concluded that I didn't understand about such 
 things and that it would be all right afterwards well, 
 and so at last I said yes ! " 
 
 " Good Lord, it's incredible ! " exclaimed Florian 
 through his teeth, doubling up his fist. " I'll tell you 
 what we'll do, Fraulein Thekla we'll put an an- 
 nouncement in all the big newspapers : ' I declare 
 herewith that my engagement to Herr Antonine 
 Prczewalski is broken off. Thekla Burmester ! ' 
 Period blotter all over ! " 
 
 " No, no, that'll never do ! " 
 
 " Of course it'll do; why not? " 
 
 " Oh, Herr Mayr, you must know what I mean ! 
 He's why, he's already kissed me ! " 
 
 " Oh, blessed simplicity ! " laughed Florian, quite 
 touched. " And so you think now the compact is as good 
 as signed and sealed ? " 
 
 Thekla looked at him dubiously out of the corners of 
 her eyes. 
 
 " Why, a girl mustn't allow anybody else but her 
 fiance to kiss her ! " she said doubtfully. " And if he 
 isn't my fiance any more I shall be ashamed that I let 
 him kiss me." 
 
 " Oh, you dear good child ! " laughed Florian. " If 
 kissing were such a terrible sin, what would you think
 
 304 Florian Mayr 
 
 of the widows, who have even had children and still set 
 their caps for another husband, that is, if they're under 
 eighty? You've heard of widows marrying again, 
 haven't you ? I've even heard it was much wiser to 
 marry a pretty widow than some young girl that doesn't 
 know anything about life or anything else." 
 
 " Oh, you mustn't think I'm so stupid, Herr Mayr ! " 
 cried Thekla with droll eagerness. " Until I was en- 
 gaged I didn't know anything and had awfully silly 
 notions; but afterwards our Marie you know her 
 too told me everything. And from that time I 
 couldn't have my fiance so much as touch me without 
 shuddering. Even before that it was always so dis- 
 agreeable when he even gave me his hand, it felt 
 like a dead, flabby lump ugh ! He couldn't give me 
 a good grip, like an honest, healthy person. And 
 when he wanted to kiss me he always went this way, 
 ' khn, khn you will give a sweet little kiss, my little 
 heart khn ? ' After a while it made me quite ill and 
 I wouldn't let him kiss me any more. I'm sure I've 
 heard, and read too, so much about love and all that, 
 but I never heard anything about men saying ' khn 
 khn ! ' when they kiss a girl ! Oh, dear, and when I 
 think of traveling alone with that man and all 
 that no indeed, I'll drown myself first ! " 
 
 They had arrived in front of the railway station and 
 Florian, who could have listened much longer to her 
 delightfully childish confessions, remarked with a sigh, 
 
 "Well, here we are at the station. What now? 
 Where do you want to go? Do you know anyhow if 
 there's a train ? " 
 
 " Oh, dear, no, I haven't looked up the trains," re- 
 plied Thekla crestfallen, as she looked about fearfully
 
 The Judgment 305 
 
 in all directions and made for the darkest corner in the 
 waiting-room. " I thought I would go to my friend 
 Erna von Goldammer. You see we were school friends 
 and still write to each other. She knows all about it, 
 and said too, that I shouldn't let myself be forced into 
 it. She's a painter now and lives all alone in Munich ; 
 that is, she's studying painting, you know. I'm sure she 
 could take me in and hide me better than anybody ! " 
 
 "Hm, yes, that wouldn't be at all bad," assented 
 Florian ; " but do you know whether she's at home now ? 
 At this season the painters are mostly in the country. 
 What'll you do in Munich all alone if your friend isn't 
 there?"' 
 
 " Oh, dear, yes, she did write that she was going 
 away soon ! " 
 
 " Have you got enough money ? " 
 
 " Oh, no," she replied dejectedly. " I haven't much 
 money, only about thirty marks. But I've got all my 
 jewelry with me." 
 
 " I'm afraid a ticket to Munich alone costs more than 
 thirty marks, and the conductor wouldn't take gold 
 bracelets ! Don't you think the best thing would be to 
 telegraph to Fraulein Erna and find out whether she's 
 at home or not ? " 
 
 " Oh, but dear Herr Mayr, I can't wait ! " wailed 
 Thekla anxiously, grasping his arm. " Just think 
 what will become of me if they catch us here! 
 Prczewalski will surely find out soon that I've gone. 
 And if he asks the hotel people they saw you go out 
 with the hand-bag and me right afterwards of course 
 they'll look for me here at the station first. Who 
 knows whether he hasn't already fetched papa and 
 mamma from the soiree ! We walked so awfully slow !
 
 306 Florian Mayr 
 
 No, no, we must take the very next train no matter 
 where it goes ! " 
 
 " We ! " cried Florian perplexed. " You really want 
 me to run away with you ? " 
 
 " Oh, dear good Herr Mayr, you surely won't leave 
 me all alone! I'm so afraid and I don't know at all 
 what to do ! " 
 
 Florian stood irresolute and pointed to his evening 
 dress. 
 
 " But, my dear girl, I can't very well go traveling 
 about like this. Wait here in some restaurant near by. 
 I'll drive home quickly, jump into another suit and 
 pack up at least a few things for the night ; for we shall 
 have to stay over night somewhere." 
 
 " Oh, please, please," begged Thekla, looking up at 
 him with her beautiful eyes full of tears, " if you love 
 me just a little bit don't leave me alone, I'm so fright- 
 ened ! We needn't go far only somewhere where 
 we can wait for an answer from Munich to-morrow and 
 pawn my things. Why don't you want to travel in 
 evening dress? You look so nice in evening dress, 
 and I can lend you some tooth-powder ! " 
 
 This last argument was of course decisive. Florian 
 was so enchanted with her charming naivete and her 
 perfect trustfulness that, in spite of all spectators, he 
 took her in his arms and pressed her to his heart. 
 " You darling girl, you ! " he whispered. " Yes, I'll 
 go with you ! " 
 
 Then he consulted the time-table and found that a 
 train would leave in ten minutes for Jena, Saalfeld, 
 and further south to Bavaria. He bought two first- 
 class tickets for Jena and at once got into the train with 
 his tearful companion. The ten minutes seemed hor-
 
 The Judgment 307 
 
 ribly long to both of them. She would not allow him 
 to sit beside her, but huddled in the farthest corner and 
 completely enveloped her face with the black veil that 
 encircled her pretty felt hat She started every time a 
 hasty step approached or a loud word was spoken out- 
 side. She trembled all over with fear and clasped her 
 hands tightly in her lap in an effort to control herself. 
 Her nervousness affected Florian. He was obliged to 
 confess to himself that the cause of her apprehension 
 was a very real one. Her idea of the situation was en- 
 tirely logical. If Herr Prczewalski was not altogether 
 too great an ass it was really almost too much to hope, 
 that they should get away unseen. And then, besides 
 all that, the delightful prospect of journeying out into 
 the falling summer night all alone with this darling, 
 enchanting little creature! It was no wonder that 
 Florian trembled with excitement exactly like the help- 
 less little maiden opposite him. 
 
 At last their agony was over. The train-doors were 
 slammed to, hurried steps craunched over the gravel and 
 then followed the shrill whistle of the guard. 
 
 " Thank the Lord ! " cried Florian with a deep sigh 
 of relief. But in the very moment that the first jerk 
 of the locomotive was felt there suddenly arose out on 
 the platform a loud clamor of men's voices : " Halt ! 
 Hold up ! Stop the train ! " 
 
 With a cry Thekla started from her seat and staggered 
 over to Florian. 
 
 "Oh, my God! My God! Don't forsake me!" 
 she stammered, half dead with fright, as she clung to 
 him hysterically. 
 
 Suddenly there arose before the window a pair of 
 peering eyes and the door-latch was turned. Florian
 
 308 Florian Mayr 
 
 turned his face away quickly in order not to be recog- 
 nized, and involuntarily put his two big hands round 
 the waist of the trembling girl, who clung to him 
 so tightly. 
 
 " Keep back there that's first class ! " rang out the 
 voice of the guard. The head disappeared from the 
 window, the door of the next compartment was banged 
 to and the train proceeded on its way. 
 
 It was several minutes before Thekla dared to raise 
 her head and look cautiously about her. " What was 
 that ? " she whispered, still fearful. 
 
 " Nothing at all ; a couple that came late ! " an- 
 swered Florian merrily. " Prczewalski was a jackass 
 after all hurrah ! You see, now we've got away from 
 them beautifully ! Oh, Thekla, sweetheart, isn't run- 
 ning away just gorgeous ? Come, give me a kiss ! " 
 
 And the good girl obediently presented to him with- 
 out a word her sweet little mouth. And all the way to 
 Jena they did nothing else but kiss and call each other 
 . " Thekla Florian Florian Thekla ! " And this 
 was quite sufficient to convince these two clever beings 
 that they loved each other dearly and that they could 
 do nothing more sensible than to accept the natural con- 
 sequences of this astonishing discovery I
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 An Escapade 
 
 To lovers who find themselves alone together for the 
 first time, one hour seems pitifully short. When the 
 guard opened the door and in cheery tones called their 
 attention to the fact that they were in Jena, they re- 
 fused to believe it. Thekla blushed scarlet beneath the 
 sly smiling glance of the polite official who would not 
 permit her companion, the fine gentleman in evening 
 dress, to burden himself with her hand-bag. She 
 wrapped her black veil carefully about her head and 
 tripped lightly to the platform behind Florian. It 
 was nearly nine o'clock and already fairly dark; be- 
 sides so far as they were aware there was not a soul in 
 Jena whom they knew, so they walked towards the exit 
 arm in arm quite unconcerned. Florian did not think 
 it worth the trouble even to button up his overcoat, al- 
 though a traveler in evening dress with a hand-bag in 
 his hand could not fail to attract the attention of the in- 
 habitants of a small town. 
 
 On the open square in front of the station the porters 
 of the various hotels vied eagerly with one another to 
 secure this unusual pair. Florian was on the point of 
 selecting the famous old " Black Bear Inn," the inn 
 where once Dr. Luther was found with sword and 
 psalter on the table before him, when with a gesture 
 of alarm and a suppressed "" Donnerwetter " he turned 
 suddenly left about, tore the bag out of the porter's
 
 310 % Florian Mayr 
 
 hands, and, dragging the astonished Thekla after him, 
 began to walk rapidly down the street leading to the 
 town. 
 
 " Oh, dear, oh, dear, what in the world's the mat- 
 ter ? " asked Thekla anxiously, trotting along at his side. 
 
 But he did not answer until, about a hundred paces 
 away from the station, he looked cautiously around and 
 made sure that they were not followed. " Why, what 
 do you suppose! There were four Weimar people at 
 the station, they must have been in the train with 
 us, two Lisztites and the two boys of that crazy Eng- 
 lishman that lives in the same house I do. Now I'd 
 like to know what they want in Jena at this time of 
 night, especially the English lads who are never al- 
 lowed to go out without their father ! I suppose they've 
 run away too. Herrgottsacra, what if they recognized 
 me!" 
 
 " Oh, they didn't recognize you," cried Thekla care- 
 lessly, " it's already quite dark. Besides no one has 
 got anything to say to you ; you can do as you please." 
 
 " Yes, but I mustn't compromise you," replied Flo- 
 rian still much concerned. " It's got to appear as if 
 you ran away alone or else it will have a very queer 
 look both to your parents and everybody else." 
 
 Brave like all women in the first glow of love, Thekla 
 laughed : " Oh, nonsense, it's all the same to me now ! 
 I'm so happy that I've got you with me ! If you hadn't 
 come to-day, I believe, I'd never have screwed up the 
 courage to start off. I'd have packed my satchel and 
 sat down alongside of it and cried until papa and 
 mamma had come home. Well, and then, in the end, 
 perhaps, you see, just in despair I might have mar- 
 ried that horrid man ! "
 
 An Escapade 311 
 
 " You would, in spite of your love for me ? Well, I 
 thank you kindly ! " said Florian teasingly. 
 
 "Now, listen to me," explained Thekla with droll 
 earnestness, clinging still more closely to his arm, 
 " Why, I didn't even know that I loved you. For a 
 long time I felt something or other but I was afraid 
 to own it even to myself. For me you were always the 
 strict Herr Mayr, my respected teacher. And after- 
 wards when you were so kind to me and helped me and 
 promised to beat all the horrid piano people, then I put 
 all my trust in you; but that was only gratitude, it 
 wasn't just exactly real love! " 
 
 " Well, to be sure, of course not," rejoined Florian 
 merrily. " Now tell me, what was it made this real 
 love come so suddenly ? " 
 
 " Oh, you ! Don't ask me such questions ! " she 
 pouted, snuggling up to him lovingly. " I'd never 
 have thought that you really and truly cared anything 
 about me at all, if you hadn't been so awfully nice and 
 dear to me this evening." 
 
 " So, that was it, was it ? It was the first kiss, 
 wasn't it, my sweetheart, that's when the real love 
 came? D'y e know, I'd never have dared do a thing 
 like that if the Herr Consul hadn't told me this morn- 
 ing that you weren't his own daughter at all. You see, 
 I'm a son of very plain people; there's nothing fine 
 about me; I've known that for a long time. To start 
 in and make love to the daughter of a swell rich 
 family, that wouldn't ever have come into my head. 
 The fact is, I don't like your aristocratic ladies very 
 much anyway. When I was giving you piano lessons, 
 you were nothing to me but a stupid little goose without 
 any talent; only you were so pretty and childlike,
 
 312 Florian Mayr 
 
 you were ahead of the rest on that score. Then, even 
 after I had slapped you, when you wrote me such a 
 sweet letter, then, you see, there was the beginning 
 of my liking you, kind of. But then I got out of Ber- 
 lin and went to Liszt and well, that's the way things 
 go. I had a lot of other things to think about. But, 
 d'ye know, day before yesterday when I saw you again 
 so unexpectedly at the station, my heart began to thump 
 away so, as if there were some higher being trying to 
 make me understand, don't you know, as if it wanted 
 to say : * Now, look there, she is the nicest, the best, 
 the dearest of all ; if you only hold fast to her, you'll 
 find out what real happiness means ! ' And now for 
 two whole days you haven't been out of my head." 
 
 "Really, as long as that?" mocked Thekla gaily. 
 
 He joined in her merriment and went on banter- 
 ingly : " Now, if I knew for sure that Thekla 
 wouldn't marry Pan Prositlaus after all, why then I 
 might think I really had something to get conceited 
 about." 
 
 " Shame on you, I think you're very nasty ! Can 
 you honestly think such a thing of me now ? " 
 
 " Perhaps in the end you might even marry me ? " 
 said Florian innocently. 
 
 " Well, who else, I'd like to know ? " she cried almost 
 hurt. " Do you mean to desert me now ? I'll never 
 go back to the Burmesters anyway and if you let me 
 go out into the world alone, I don't know what I shall 
 do, so, you see, the best thing we can do is to go and 
 get married right away." 
 
 " Well, upon my word, you are a clever little minx ! " 
 cried Florian, laughing heartily. But when she went 
 on to spin out her plan in detail and demanded with
 
 An Escapade 313 
 
 childlike persistence a decision on the spot, he began 
 to feel a little worried and directed her attention first of 
 all to the fact that for marrying money was necessary. 
 
 " Oh, is that all ? " cried Thekla. " Why, papa and 
 mamma have lots of money." 
 
 " Yes, but when you run away with a man they 
 don't want anything to do with, they won't give you a 
 penny, for, you see, you're not their child to begin with 
 and they haven't any obligations towards you. But 
 even supposing they put a million on the table for 
 you, do you think I'd take it unless I was already 
 earning enough to support myself independently ? " 
 
 " A million ! Oh, I sha'n't get anything like that 
 much ! " cried Thekla. " Papa told me, I shall have 
 two hundred thousand marks, no more." 
 
 " No more ? " Morian stopped. They were directly 
 under a street lamp and with shy admiration he looked 
 at the little girl who was to receive in one lump two 
 hundred thousand marks. He had never seen such a. 
 thing close by before. 
 
 Thekla probably misunderstood his exclamation for in 
 a tone of almost anxious apology, she replied : " Oh, 
 later on I shall be sure to get a good deal more. Papa 
 hasn't anyone in particular to leave all his money to. 
 But for the present I think we can get along with that 
 pretty well. Besides you can give piano lessons and 
 I'm not a bit extravagant; in fact the cheapest things 
 to eat are the things I like best." 
 
 Again Florian could not help laughing. " I say, 
 I'm frightfully hungry. I haven't had anything to eat 
 since one o'clock this afternoon. But what shall we 
 do now? If we go to a restaurant we're likely as not 
 to run right into the arms of these fellows from Weimar.
 
 314 Florian Mayr 
 
 I think the most sensible thing to do is to go to the 
 hotel and have supper served in the room." 
 
 Then they inquired their way to the " Black Bear 
 Inn." The head waiter as well as the porter regarded 
 the pair with ill-concealed distrust, although Florian 
 had now buttoned his overcoat up to the throat. But 
 that tiny little satchel as the entire luggage of a tall 
 gentleman in a silk hat and of a very young lady in a 
 traveling gown, that was altogether too suspicious! 
 Besides where did the pair come from that they came 
 on foot ? Another thing still was suspicious : Florian 
 wore no gloves and consequently the headwaiter had 
 no difficulty in discovering that he wore no wedding 
 ring. He murmured some excuse and went to fetch the 
 proprietor. 
 
 Of course the headwaiter's singular behavior did not 
 escape Florian's notice. In the presence of the proprie- 
 tor he tried to assume as confident a manner as pos- 
 sible ; he asked if a party from Weimar had arrived 
 
 " From Weimar ? " replied the host with a searching 
 look, " yes, an elderly gentleman with a young wife. 
 Let me see, their name is I can tell you in a mo- 
 ment." 
 
 " It isn't necessary ; we have no concern with the 
 old gentleman and his young wife," said Florian in- 
 differently. " Give us two good rooms one flight up 
 if you've got them." 
 
 Whether it was that the host was a man of fewer 
 prejudices than the headwaiter or that he was unwilling 
 to let slip a chance of making some money, at all 
 events, he bowed most respectfully and ordered the 
 waiter to conduct the guests to the rooms, adjoining that 
 occupied by the couple from Weimar.
 
 An Escapade 315 
 
 Arrived in their apartment, the headwaiter lighted 
 the candles and inquired if they would come down to 
 the dining-room. Florian refused and said they would 
 have supper served in their room and he ordered a lamp 
 and a bill of fare. 
 
 " Very good, sir," said the headwaiter, " the lady and 
 gentleman next door are also served in their rooms." 
 And with this the fellow took the liberty of smiling. 
 
 Florian dismissed him, feeling that this meaning 
 smile must be a special peculiarity of Thuringian head- 
 waiters. But it made him uncomfortable so that when 
 his charming little sweetheart had laid aside hat, duster, 
 and gloves and came up to him radiant with happiness, 
 he could not bring himself to the point of folding her 
 in his arms and kissing her soundly, as she evidently 
 wished him to do. He only pressed her outstretched 
 hands hurriedly and then went to the window and gazed 
 out upon the Schlossplatz. 
 
 Burghers sat chatting at their doors; young girls 
 were strolling about the square, linked arm in arm in 
 twos and threes, and teasing one another about the 
 young fellows they met; from some quarter came the 
 joyous sound of student songs agreeably subdued, and 
 in the clear night sky the stars were blinking and paling 
 in the light of the rising moon. Everything breathed 
 of peace and cosy contentment but Florian's soul was 
 filled with disquiet. Although only twenty-three, he 
 was a sober-minded and morally mature man. His con- 
 science was suddenly awake to the fact that he had as- 
 sumed a deucedly serious moral responsibility in carry- 
 ing out this otherwise so charming elopement. His 
 brief apprenticeship in Weimar had it is true, already 
 sufficed to cure him of his old Philistine prejudice that
 
 316 Florian Mayr 
 
 these love affairs were sinful in themselves, and now, so 
 far as he was personally concerned, he never hesitated 
 to accept in a grateful spirit the sweet boons that for- 
 tune threw into his lap but in this case it was perfectly 
 clear to him that the trusting surrender of this poor 
 tormented girl could only bring misfortune upon her. 
 If it should become known that Thekla had gone off 
 with him alone and stayed over night in the hotel, the 
 world would need no other proof of her " fall," not 
 even should he swear to the contrary by the most sacred 
 oaths. And then in the eyes of this same world her 
 shrewish foster-mother would be justified in every 
 cruelty. And how should he, the homeless musician, 
 shield her from this effectively for any length of time ? 
 If he insisted upon marrying the child, the mother 
 would undoubtedly force her husband to withhold the dot 
 and then they would both be doomed to certain wretch- 
 edness. His career as an artist would be at an end 
 and he would have drawn this helpless creature into 
 a sphere of life whose severe demands she was in no 
 way fitted to meet. He was far from being such a 
 romantic simpleton as to imagine that love even in the 
 cheerless perspective of a matrimonial eternity would 
 suffice to help them over the awkward difficulties of a 
 miserable reality. 
 
 The waiter brought the lamp and the bill of fare. 
 Florian ordered the best there was to be had and with 
 it a bottle of good wine. Since this was to be a part- 
 ing feast, it should at least be a generous one. He 
 purposely refrained from ordering champagne for that 
 had the reputation of being a dangerous procurer and 
 he had solemnly resolved not to yield to temptation in 
 any form.
 
 An Escapade 317 
 
 When the waiter had gone, Florian was about to re- 
 sume his place at the window but Thekla threw her 
 arms around his neck and with a look of touching anx- 
 iety whispered : " Don't you love me any more ? " 
 
 That is the droll question which in the beginning of 
 love springs to the lips of every girl and a man in love 
 can answer it in no other way but by kisses and tender 
 reassurances. Florian accordingly followed the old 
 established custom. He at once assumed an expression 
 of kindly affection ; why should he spoil the dear 
 child's pleasure? They might be allowed to snatch a 
 few hours of merry companionship and then they would 
 have to say good-by for, ah, who knows how long ? He 
 took her by the arm and led her to the window. They 
 leaned out and chatted tenderly, innocently, until the 
 supper was served. 
 
 Both had healthy appetites and the excellent repast 
 did much to dispel Florian's melancholy and to loosen 
 Thekla's tongue. With a vivacity for which he had 
 not given her credit, she gave him a description of her 
 life hitherto, of her education, and of her few trifling 
 experiences with men. They were all the usual in- 
 significant incidents in the life of a well guarded daugh- 
 ter of good family. But the way in which Thekla 
 spoke of them unconsciously comprised a most trench- 
 ant criticism of the life led by aristocratic young ladies 
 in general and of her foster-parents in particular and 
 proved at the same time that this child had already 
 formed some very reasonable notions concerning the 
 perversities and the ridiculous and narrow views that 
 had hampered her at every step. Florian took genuine 
 pleasure in this discovery for until now, if he would 
 make an honest confession, he had thought Thekla a
 
 318 Florian Mayr 
 
 little bit stupid; lie had regarded her as one of those 
 agreeable creatures, wholly useless for any of the se- 
 rious purposes of life, such as the higher social classes 
 produce in dangerous abundance as articles of luxury. 
 
 He listened to her with real delight; only when at 
 last in her eagerness she spoke a little too loud, he 
 checked her with a " please, piu piano. The people 
 next door don't need to hear everything." 
 
 "Oh, nonsense," retorted Thekla lightly. "They 
 don't hear us ; they're talking too loud themselves." 
 
 Florian put his hand to his ear and listened at the 
 door at the left. Yes, it was true; the talking and 
 laughing there was certainly loud enough and anyone 
 listening at the door could hear a good deal. Thekla 
 resumed the conversation but Florian had grown in- 
 attentive and kept pricking up his ears in the direction 
 of the adjoining room. The young woman's laugh in 
 that room disquieted him; the voice seemed to him so 
 familiar and the peculiar intonation reminded him of 
 
 Suddenly he sprang up in great excitement and com- 
 manding Thekla to be quiet, put his ear to the door. 
 Oh, he was not mistaken. " He is dear friend of mine, 
 very famous artist ! " he heard " the young wife " say. 
 There was no longer any doubt. The lady's companion 
 spoke too softly for him to recognize the voice. Flo- 
 rian stooped to peep through the keyhole, but the key 
 was so turned that nothing could be seen. 
 
 "Why, what's the matter?" asked the astonished 
 Thekla in an anxious whisper. " You've turned quite 
 pale ; what kind of horrid people are they in there ? " 
 
 Florian had come back to the table. The hand with 
 which he steadied himself trembled. He avoided 
 Thekla's questioning look and replied in much con-
 
 An Escapade 319 
 
 fusion : " We are lost if those people see us here to- 
 gether!" 
 
 He paid no heed to Thekla's curious questions or 
 her proposals. Now he walked excitedly on tiptoe up 
 and down the room, now stopped to listen at the door, 
 now took his place at table again and worried down 
 a few mouthfuls. Thekla of course soon caught his 
 excitement. She left untasted the appetizing bit of 
 bread and cheese which she had just prepared and fol- 
 lowed him. With her own little handkerchief she 
 dried the cold beads of anxiety from his brow and 
 begged him in a whisper for an explanation of his 
 strange behavior. He was scarcely able to speak. He 
 looked up at her with an expression of deep pain and 
 choked hoarsely: " That is the punishment! " 
 
 "Punishment? what for?" whispered Thekla a 
 little hurt. " What wrong have I done ? Is it a sin 
 for us to love each other ? " 
 
 " Xo, no, no ! You are innocent I it concerns 
 only me." With that he pulled himself together and 
 went over to the door to ring the bell. 
 
 " What are you going to do ? " cried Thekla anx- 
 iously. 
 
 " I must go," replied Ylorian in a whisper. " I'll 
 just pay and, that is, no, I'd better leave you 
 what money you need. I think I've enough to take you 
 to Munich. But telegraph first thing to-morrow morn- 
 ing to your friend and start as soon as you get word. 
 I must get out of here without being seen, perhaps 
 there's still a train to Weimar. We mustn't be caught 
 here, not at any price ! " 
 
 "Yes, but suppose Erna isn't there, what shall I 
 do then ? "
 
 320 Florian Mayr 
 
 "Well, then " Florian did not know what to 
 say. 
 
 Thekla burst into tears. "Oh dear, oh dear! 
 !Now you're going to desert me, too! You see, you 
 don't love me after all ! " 
 
 " It's just because I do love you, my sweetheart! " 
 
 He was about to go over to her and comfort her 
 when he heard the door of the adjoining room open and 
 its occupants go out into the corridor in animated dis- 
 cussion. Even Thekla listened in suspense. The foot- 
 steps died away. Florian deliberated what was to be 
 done next and Thekla did not venture to disturb his 
 meditations. A few minutes passed thus before he 
 could reach a decision. 
 
 Suddenly there were again sounds of life in the cor- 
 ridor. Hurried steps and excited whispers approached 
 from the staircase; at the door of the next room there 
 was a brief consultation, then a few quick steps, 
 and the next minute, without the ceremony of knock- 
 ing the door opened and there entered Mr. Crookes, 
 senior, followed by Fraulein Ilonka Badacs ! An angry 
 exclamation from Florian, a frightened scream from 
 Thekla, and dumb astonishment on the part of the in- 
 truders ! Then Thekla did the best thing possible un- 
 der the circumstances: quickly covering her face with 
 her napkin, she ran into the bedroom adjoining, which 
 was intended for her use. 
 
 With a few rapid strides Florian went up to Mr. 
 Crookes, shook his fist in his face, and shouted at him 
 hoarsely : " What do you want here, sir ? You just 
 get out ! " 
 
 Mr. Crookes at once assumed a boxing attitude and 
 broke in with extraordinary fluency : " Oh, Herr
 
 An Escapade 321 
 
 Mayr, I am very glad to meet you. Don't hit me 
 or I shall knock you down. Go into the next room with 
 this lady right away ; my sons are coming up the stairs ! 
 They must not find me with this lady, do you under- 
 stand? If you don't understand, I'll knock you 
 down!" 
 
 Florian scarcely knew whether he understood or not ; 
 neither could he make up his mind whether to laugh 
 at the Englishman who was so supremely ludicrous in 
 his indescribable excitement or to let it come to fisticuffs, 
 but at this juncture Fraulein Ilonka seized him roughly 
 by the arm and without a word of explanation pulled 
 him through the door. She dragged and shoved him 
 along the corridor and pushed him into her room. 
 
 " What does this mean ? What in the world are you 
 thinking of ? " cried Florian quite out of breath. 
 
 Ilonka answered with a mocking laugh : " Oh, 
 Saint Florian ! fine saint ! I tell all in Weimar, if 
 you don't do as I bid. March! Sit down on sofa, 
 arm around me that way, champagne glass in your 
 hand ! Oho ! No resistance or else that's the way. 
 Now let the chase begin." 
 
 It was the highest time for at that moment there 
 came a knock at the door and in response to Ilonka's 
 loud " come in " Bob and Dick Crookes with Herr 
 Ispirescu and another young Lisztite of Ilonka's par- 
 ticular circle crossed the threshold ; with an exclamation 
 of surprise that came as from one throat and with faces 
 a yard long they remained standing at the door. 
 
 Florian disengaged himself roughly from Ilonka's 
 embrace and sprang to his feet. His surprise and ex- 
 citement had the appearance of being so entirely natural 
 that the four young fellows could not help believing it
 
 322 Florian Mayr 
 
 genuine. No one spoke a word. They stared at one 
 another completely dumfounded and bewildered. 
 
 Suddenly like a ray of light it came over Florian 
 that herein lay his salvation. He now had witnesses 
 that it was with another he had run away to Jena. 
 Thekla Burmester was not known to any of these peo- 
 ple. Crookes, senior, would have to hold his tongue in 
 any case, or else he would be the most thoroughly dis- 
 graced of the lot. The only point then was to induce 
 Ilonka to keep the secret. In that case this very ques- 
 tionable escapade might still pass off without evil re- 
 sults. But that fate should have ordained Ilonka of 
 all women to catch him here with her successor ! This 
 Ilonka whom he had so cruelly offended ! He was now 
 delivered into her hands, wholly defenseless. If she 
 wanted revenge, now was her perfect chance! Here 
 was another case in which punishment had followed 
 close upon the heels of misconduct and Morian, the 
 poor sinner, began to conceive a mighty respect for di- 
 vine justice. He was glad, however, that for the pres- 
 ent at least the worst danger had been warded off from 
 Thekla's innocent head and that thought helped him to 
 recover his self-possession. He went up to the four 
 young gentlemen and addressed them in a manner be- 
 fitting the occasion : " Well, gentlemen, this is 
 really What do you want here? It seems to me, 
 to say the least, extraordinary ! " 
 
 The four youngsters were quite at their wits' end. 
 Each looked helplessly at the others; then they stam- 
 mered a few very clumsy excuses and much ashamed 
 were about to take themselves off, when Ilonka rooted 
 them to the spot again by bursting into loud laughter. 
 
 " Is too comical, having awful fun ! Just look,
 
 An Escapade 323 
 
 dear friend Florian, how they stand there, handsome 
 young gentlemen! But Mr. Bob and Mr. Dick, what 
 will father say when he looks to-night in beds and finds 
 all empty? Merciful heavens, that will be big, big 
 disaster when you get home ! Oh, poor young gentle- 
 men!" 
 
 The Crookes boys turned scarlet with anger under 
 the mockery of the malicious lady. They saw Herr 
 Mayr smiling, too, and there was a tell-tale twitching 
 in the faces of their two companions. They were con- 
 vinced that someone had played a practical joke on 
 them in order to have fun with them afterwards when 
 their strict "governor" should have inflicted condign 
 punishment on them as runaways. Master Dick who 
 had more temperament than his brother was the first 
 to take heart and speak out frankly. He advanced a 
 few steps towards the table on the other side of which 
 Ilonka was sitting, made a quick bow, and said : " I 
 beg your pardon, Fraulein, for running in here this way. 
 These fellows told us we should find our father 
 here." 
 
 " What, you lost your father ? " cried Ilonka, in- 
 describably delighted. 
 
 " Oh, no," replied Dick boldly, " but we noticed that 
 father was in love with you. These fellows told us 
 he had run away with you to-day. You told these fel- 
 lows yourself you were going to stop at this hotel ! " 
 
 " But, really, young gentlemen I must beg of you, " 
 interrupted Ilonka, playing the injured one. 
 
 Bob went up to Dick to quiet him but Dick would 
 not listen to anything more. His eyes flashed and he 
 threatened the two young Lisztites with a fist that prom- 
 ised many things. " Oh, I'll pound these chaps to a
 
 324 Florian Mayr 
 
 pulp! Damn them. Come along, Bob, let's do them 
 up!" 
 
 He rushed at the two youths with a gesture so threat- 
 ening that they dodged to one side with great celerity 
 and found it best to seek protection with Florian and 
 his lady. For some time all six of them talked at once. 
 Fraulein Badacs expressed indignation that they should 
 come to blows in her presence. Dick raged and cursed 
 in English, while Bob endeavored to calm him. Herr 
 Ispirescu tried to make the case clear to Florian. The 
 other young Lisztite heaped reproaches upon Fraulein 
 Badacs for lying to them. Finally Florian threatened 
 to punch the whole pack of them in the nose if they 
 did not behave at once. Herr Ispirescu at last got 
 Florian into a corner and thus eventually succeeded in 
 explaining to him the cause of this remarkable inci- 
 dent He and his companion had, it seems, made 
 friends with the young Crookes and had entered into a 
 conspiracy with Fraulein Badacs to emancipate these 
 two lively, prepossessing lads from their father's tyr- 
 anny. To this end Ilonka had proposed to play upon 
 the old Englishman's amorous propensities. She had 
 little difficulty in getting Mr. Crookes to make the 
 proposition himself of going off for a little pleasure 
 trip and she had arranged with her fellow conspirators 
 that they should follow her to Jena and at an appointed 
 hour in the "Black Bear Inn" surprise her in a 
 tete-a-tete with this austere abstainer. That the 
 two sons should be of the party formed, it is true, no 
 part of the original programme; the young people had 
 carried that out on their own account because by that 
 means they expected to produce a particularly power- 
 ful effect.
 
 An Escapade 325 
 
 Florian could not help laughing outright, for the 
 thought of the old hypocrite caught in so compromising 
 a situation by his two sons was, indeed, irresistibly 
 ludicrous. When the others heard Florian laugh, the 
 confusion of excited voices was suddenly hushed and all 
 eyes were fastened expectantly upon him. Going up 
 to the two young Englishmen, he slapped them fa- 
 miliarly on the shoulder and said : " Well, young 
 gentlemen, the matter is very simple, let's all be glad 
 it's turned out as it has. You haven't got to pound, 
 pommel, or punch any of us, for we're all as innocent 
 as new-born lambs. Of course I'm the biggest little 
 lamb of the lot for I didn't know anything about it at 
 all. Xobody has lied to you, either, for it's quite true 
 your father had planned a little escapade of this sort. 
 But, you see, well Fraulein and I, you know, 
 we're, we're good friends, too, and when I asked her 
 if she wouldn't run over to Jena with me this evening, 
 why, she respected my prior claims and came off with 
 me. Besides I can take my oath that our friend, 
 Fraulein Ilonka, is very glad she didn't play the old 
 gentleman such a mean trick, aren't you now ? " 
 
 Ilonka gave Florian a grateful look and with a sweet, 
 shamefaced expression replied : " Why, of course, 
 was sorry already I promised you young people such 
 silly things! Wasn't nice to play such joke on Mr. 
 Crookes. The old man is not to blame to fall in love 
 with me." 
 
 " Well, rather not ! " cried Florian merrily. 
 " There's nothing to be ashamed of in that, by Jove ! 
 Just look at her, this Fraulein Ilonka ! " 
 
 By this gallant turn the mood of gayety was restored 
 at one stroke and nothing remained to be done but to
 
 326 Florian Mayr 
 
 relieve the two young Englishmen of all fear of their 
 father's wrath. This Florian succeeded in doing by 
 simply promising to tell the old gentleman that it was 
 he, Florian, who had led the lads astray and induced 
 them to make this little excursion. That settled, they 
 all made preparations to spend the rest of the evening 
 as pleasantly as possible in some beer resort Florian 
 had wisely rejected the proposition to make use of the 
 restaurant of the " Black Bear Inn " for their enter- 
 tainment, for some careless remark of the waiter might 
 reveal the presence of the other pair. 
 
 Ilonka requested the young gentlemen to go on ahead. 
 Then, locking the door behind them, she turned quickly 
 to Florian and, squeezing both his hands, cried with 
 animation : " Bravo ! dear friend. You did that very 
 well. Now I will help you. What young girl is that ? 
 Out with it quick!" 
 
 In a few words Florian told her the whole truth. 
 
 " Hm, hm stupid business ! " murmured Ilonka 
 thoughtfully. " Is the girl real nice ? Will Saint 
 Florian marry the girl ? " 
 
 " Yes, she is nice all right and marry her I would 
 if I could." 
 
 " Hold on, I know what we do ! " She took Flo- 
 rian by the arm and led him along the corridor to the 
 door of the room in which Thekla had taken refuge. 
 There she bade him knock and call her softly by name. 
 
 Thekla opened the door at once and was not a lit- 
 tle astonished to see the strange lady enter with Florian. 
 Before he could say a word, Ilonka already held Thekla 
 in her arms and had kissed her heartily on both cheeks. 
 
 " My dear Fraulein," she exclaimed warmly, " Good 
 Lord, how you have cried! Please, please, be quite
 
 An Escapade 327 
 
 calm. My friend Mayr has told me all. Will all come 
 out right, chere petite! Have two beds in my room. 
 You sleep with me and to-morrow morning we all three 
 consider what we do. I give you my sacred word of 
 honor you will not marry that disgusting creature ! " 
 
 The poor, tearstained Thekla was evidently glad to 
 have anyone take charge of her and willingly followed 
 the strange lady to her room. There Ilonka rang for 
 the waiter to clear away the dinner things and com- 
 missioned Florian to look after the unfortunate Mr. 
 Crookes. 
 
 He had locked himself in in the adjoining room and 
 fearfully awaited his fate. As soon as Florian had 
 made himself known, he opened the door a very little 
 and cautiously peeped through the crack. Kot until 
 he had convinced himself that Florian was really alone, 
 did he allow him to enter. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Crookes, these are fine games you're up 
 to ! " said Florian, raising his forefinger admonishingly. 
 He kept back the laughter with difficulty by biting his 
 lips when he confronted this dried up old sinner who 
 stared at him with a look of abject misery. 
 
 " Oh, dear, oh, dear ! " groaned Mr. Crookes, hold- 
 ing his head in both his hands. " I heard my sons' 
 voices. What did my sons say? How did they get 
 here?" 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Crookes, you were incautious," replied 
 Florian solemnly. " Love blinded you, yes, yes, yes ! 
 Your sons saw it plainly and so they plotted with their 
 friends to watch you. Yes, indeed, if I hadn't acci- 
 dentally been on hand! What do you think? You'd 
 have been in a nice mess ! " 
 
 Mr. Crookes shook his head thoughtfully. " Dear
 
 328 Florian Mayr 
 
 me, dear me, I don't at all understand how these boys 
 found out that I went to Jena." 
 
 "Yes, that's so. Donnerwetter! It is singular," 
 cried Florian and he thought the matter over for 
 awhile. Then he added slyly : " Someone must have 
 followed you to the station, you know, and listened and 
 found out what place you bought your tickets for." 
 
 " Dear me, dear me ! " sighed Mr. Crookes. " I 
 never should have thought that those boys were so 
 damned clever." 
 
 " Well, now you see it That sort of things always 
 brings its own punishment sooner or later. Believe me, 
 my dear Mr. Crookes. Grown-up sons should not be 
 treated as if they were little children. But I'll tell you 
 one thing: give me your word of honor as a gentleman 
 that in the future you'll give Messrs. Bob and Dick their 
 freedom as is right and proper, and I'll help you out 
 of this scrape." 
 
 Mr. Crookes thereupon shook hands with Florian 
 and promised to do as he asked. Florian told him to 
 take the first train back to Weimar in the morning. 
 When his boys returned by a later train, he was to re- 
 ceive them in a perfectly unconcerned manner and 
 just tease them a little for running off that way. 
 Florian for his part agreed to remove one way or an- 
 other the last speck of suspicion that might still lurk 
 in the young gentlemen's minds. 
 
 Mr. Crookes was grateful beyond measure and called 
 Florian his best friend. 
 
 Without in the corridor Ilonka was waiting for 
 Florian. He reported to her the happy outcome of 
 his diplomatic mission. Then he wanted to go in and
 
 An Escapade 329 
 
 say good-by to Thekla but that Ilonka would not per- 
 mit. 
 
 " Let poor child alone ! " she whispered to him. " Is 
 too much excited. To-morrow morning all three of us 
 think out something. The girl is so nice, understand 
 perfectly that you want marry her. Girls like that 
 are just made to be married! If they can love such 
 a bear as you, well, is their business, is not my affair. 
 But I will help her. I spit on the Herr Consul's bald 
 head and as for the fine mamma, I scratch her eyes 
 out!" 
 
 They were descending the stairs, as she said this, 
 side by side. Florian seized her hand and pressed it 
 hard ; with heartfelt warmth he whispered : " You 
 dear incomprehensible Ilonka, You are a good girl 
 through and through ! "
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 A Sorry Farewell 
 
 THE prolonged nocturnal symposium which followed 
 the eventful evening at the " Black Bear Inn " com- 
 pletely removed the danger that Mr. Crookes ran of 
 being surprised by his sons in the first morning train to 
 Weimar; for all the participators in this hilarious 
 " beer-tour " slept until nine o'clock the next morning, 
 with the single exception of Florian, who, in spite of 
 the evening's revels, made out to rise at six and take 
 the first train. It had suddenly occurred to him as he 
 was returning to the hotel the night before, that he 
 could not without a good excuse shirk his regular morn- 
 ing hour with Liszt without involving himself in a net- 
 work of falsehood. He would never in the world have 
 dared to confess to the Master what a stupid and dan- 
 gerous act of folly he had been on the point of com- 
 mitting, to abduct a respectable girl, hardly more 
 than a child, from her parents while they were guests 
 at Liszt's own house, and stay with her over night at 
 the best known hotel in Jena ! !^o, that was altogether 
 too much, and the Master would hardly accept any 
 excuse for it, even if he believed everything that 
 Florian could offer in his own defense. He had there- 
 fore asked Ilonka to make his excuses to Thekla and to 
 do with the poor girl as she thought best. 
 
 Just as on the morning of his first fall, Florian 
 brought home with him this time as well a severe
 
 A Sorry Farewell 331 
 
 moral " katzen jammer," and it was so clearly written 
 in his face that Liszt attributed it without more ado to 
 the headache he had complained of the evening before, 
 and soon sent the young man home that he might take 
 proper care of himself. 
 
 Florian scourged his soul cruelly and chastised his 
 heart with scorpions as he lay half dressed on his bed 
 endeavoring to make up for his lost sleep. He -could 
 justify the abduction to his conscience; it was so hon- 
 estly meant and had proved so harmless. There was 
 no manner of doubt that taking away a loving and 
 beloved maiden from hard-hearted parents who mal- 
 treated her in an unjustifiable manner belonged to the 
 inalienable rights of man! Thekla loved and trusted 
 him ; therefore he was undoubtedly the one called upon 
 to help her. But was he worthy of this trust? 
 " ^o ! " thundered his conscience with appalling dis- 
 tinctness in his ears. It is true, his warm, tender heart 
 had absolutely melted with sympathy yesterday at the. 
 helplessness of the charming, lovesick child, and he had 
 confessed his own love for her plainly enough by in- 
 numerable kisses. But in sober reality, how was it with 
 this love of his for her ? Woeful ah, woeful indeed ! 
 AYhen he had met Ilonka, the incomprehensively good 
 and yet naughty, the old passion had come over him 
 once more impetuously and seized upon his heart with 
 clinging talons. After all she had been his first love, 
 and, in spite of the desperate efforts he had made, with 
 the aid of his moral indignation, to cast her off, he 
 could not banish her from his heart. He was obliged 
 to confess to himself that he had been very much re- 
 lieved the night before, when Ilonka's intervention had 
 released him from the painful responsibility for the
 
 332 Florian Mayr 
 
 consequences of his rashness. Florian was quite well 
 aware that Thekla was not only far prettier than Ilonka, 
 but united in herself all the qualities necessary to 
 guarantee to the man she loved permanent happiness. 
 She was so young and fresh and pure, so sweet and 
 warm, devoted and natural, in spite of her artificial 
 " higher " education ; while Ilonka's charms were al- 
 ready on the wane and needed the subtlest secrets of the 
 toilette to make them tell. Her virtue was not worth 
 a penny, and the man who gave her his heart was sure 
 to pay for a moment of intoxication with an eternity of 
 doubt. And yet all the ardent longing of his senses be- 
 longed to this woman. He was fascinated by her wit, 
 her gypsylike temperament and her irresponsible good- 
 heartedness, to such a degree that he would have been 
 ready to run away with her that very day, although he 
 was perfectly aware that, perhaps inside of a week, she 
 might send him home and throw herself into the arms 
 of another, who was in a position to offer her amusements 
 of a more exciting kind, and, what was more to the 
 point, able to spend more on her. 
 
 Florian said all this to himself and once more used 
 up conscientiously the whole rich vocabulary of vigorous 
 expletives of which he was master. 
 
 Meanwhile in the " Black Bear Inn " at Jena, Thekla 
 had awakened, but, as her companion still slept soundly 
 she did not venture to rise for fear of disturbing her, 
 and thus she found plenty of time in which to think 
 over her situation. The evening before in her excite- 
 ment and alarm she had let them do whatever they 
 wanted with her, but in the light of the new day the 
 assistance which this strange woman had given her 
 seemed an act of pure violence. She was still in igno-
 
 A Sorry Farewell 333 
 
 ranee of the name of the lady, who lay beside her in bed 
 with open mouth, snoring gently ; who was she and in 
 what relation did she stand to Florian ? If she had 
 been all alone with the knowledge that her Florian was 
 sleeping in the next room, she would have awakened 
 calm and happy in the steadfast assurance that he would 
 decide correctly for her and nothing more that was dis- 
 agreeable could happen to her; but this stranger with 
 her large mouth open, her faded features, her hard Tar- 
 tar cheek-bones and complexion that seemed spotted in 
 the gray morning light, the traces of powder and rouge 
 which she had rubbed off but carelessly when she went 
 to bed, this stranger to whom Florian had not even 
 found it worth his while to introduce her, inspired her 
 with involuntary aversion. How did this woman dare 
 to come into her life ? To be sure, Florian had com- 
 mitted her to her care unhesitatingly and had then 
 gone away with her just as if it were a matter of course 
 for him to obey her wishes. 
 
 Thekla's first sensation at these thoughts was one of 
 jealousy. It did not occur to her that Florian's be- 
 havior was proof that he must have reason to trust the 
 woman. She only felt hurt that they treated her as if 
 she were a being without any will of her own, and she 
 felt ashamed of herself that she had been weak enough 
 to shed tears in the presence of this stranger, and to 
 allow herself to be ruled so unresistingly. With a sud- 
 den resolve she threw back the bed-clothes in order to 
 get up quietly, dress, and look for her protector. But 
 then it occurred to her that she had no idea where 
 Florian slept. She could not run into the room of the 
 old gentleman, who had appeared so suddenly the even- 
 ing before. Or should she go down and order her
 
 334 Florian Mayr 
 
 breakfast alone in the dining-room, and wait until 
 Florian looked for her ? No, that wouldn't do either. 
 She drew the bed-clothes over her again, hid her face 
 in the pillows, and began to cry. 
 
 Ilonka finally awoke. It was already past nine 
 o'clock. In the meantime Thekla had dressed and was 
 sitting on the sofa with her elbows on the table and her 
 face hidden in her hands. Ilonka yawned loudly, 
 rubbed her eyes and called out good humoredly, "Ah 
 bon jour, mad'moiselle! Mais vous vous etes levee de 
 bonne heure. Comment ga va-t-il? Bien dormi 
 hem?" 
 
 Thekla uncovered her tearful little face and shrugged 
 her shoulders without a word. 
 
 " Mais, ma chere enfant, pourquoi si triste ? II n'y a 
 pas de quoi tout va bien! " And with one jump she 
 was out of bed, ran over to Thekla in her pink silk 
 nightgown, sat down beside her on the sofa and gave 
 her a resounding kiss on either cheek. 
 
 Thekla disengaged herself in a frightened way 
 and said in childish tones, " Mayn't I go to Herr Mayr 
 now?" 
 
 Ilonka was highly amused and laughed aloud. She 
 embraced Thekla again with ardor and exclaimed, 
 " Cher petit ange, you are charming, you dear little 
 thing ! Oh, this Herr Mayr, how he is to envy ! How 
 late is it? nine o'clock? Oh, then Herr Mayr is 
 in Weimar a long time and works with the Master." 
 
 "Herr Mayr is is not here?" The words 
 came out spasmodic and trembling, and poor Thekla 
 turned quite pale. 
 
 " But, dear young lady," said Ilonka soothingly,
 
 A Sorry Farewell 335 
 
 " Why we need Herr Mayr ? We can straighten your 
 affair much better alone. The men always do such 
 stupid things in such matters." And then she told her 
 that she had arranged last night with Florian that she 
 was to take her to Weimar and keep her in her rooms 
 until they had extracted a promise from her foster-par- 
 ents that the engagement should be broken. 
 
 But Thekla burst into tears again and stubbornly de- 
 clared that she would not return to Weimar nor go back 
 to her parents under any circumstances. 
 
 All Ilonka's persuasiveness was of no avail. Thekla 
 obstinately insisted upon carrying out her original plan 
 of joining her Munich friend. 
 
 There was, therefore, absolutely nothing for Ilonka 
 to do but hold her peace for the present and think of 
 her toilette. She already stood at the washstand, when 
 Thekla suddenly approached her and called out in a 
 tone that was actually defiant, " Why, I don't even 
 know who you are ! " 
 
 Thereupon Ilonka took hold of her long silk night- 
 gown affectedly with her finger tips, dropped a dancing- 
 school curtsey and said, " If you will please, gracious 
 Fraulein, my name is Badacs Ilonka, pianist Hun- 
 garian, and Herr Mayr is an old, very dear friend of 
 me. You can trust me very sure. But now you go 
 down, you have nothing in stomach and you are nerv- 
 ous. You take coffee en attendant, and I come right 
 away." 
 
 Thekla followed this good advice, and after she had 
 taken a little breakfast really felt better and more hope- 
 ful. She wrote out a telegram to her friend Erna, 
 but as she had never in her life written a telegram her-
 
 336 Florian Mayr 
 
 self she was afraid to send it off, and, therefore, waited 
 until Ilonka came down in order to submit it for her 
 approval. 
 
 After a little pruning the dispatch was sent, as Ilonka 
 had discovered that Thekla had her own stubborn little 
 head and was likely to do the rashest things unless one 
 was very careful with her. It was only in the after- 
 noon that the answer from Munich arrived : " Ad- 
 dressee out of town, whereabouts unknown." 
 
 Thekla's disappointment was keen, and there re- 
 mained nothing for her to do, helpless as she now found 
 herself, but to place herself unreservedly in the hands 
 of Fraulein Badacs. Moreover the few hours that they 
 had been obliged to spend together had pretty well suf- 
 ficed to overcome Thekla's original aversion to Flo- 
 rian's obliging friend. Ilonka's confident manner had 
 not failed to have its effect on Thekla, and, although 
 the latter could not quite get rid of her jealous sus- 
 picions, she nevertheless could not help finding the 
 warm-hearted and extremely amusing Hungarian very 
 agreeable. 
 
 The two young ladies arrived about three in the after- 
 noon without further mishap in Weimar, where Ilonka 
 accompanied her protegee in one of the celebrated ca- 
 nary-yellow public carriages (the capital could boast 
 as many as four of these vehicles) to her own home. 
 Immediately afterwards she betook herself to the 
 " Kussischer Hof." 
 
 The porter's face took on a doubtful expression as 
 Fraulein Badacs, whom he knew well, asked to see Con- 
 sul Bunnester. The Bunnesters had received alarm- 
 ing news and would hardly care to receive visitors. 
 
 " Oh, just say I have news from Fraulein daugh-
 
 A Sorry Farewell 337 
 
 ter they will receive me already ! " replied Ilonka 
 with a knowing smile. 
 
 " Oh, that's another matter! " ejaculated the porter, 
 his curiosity aroused. Then he sent a waiter up with 
 the message and Fraulein Badacs's card. The man 
 fairly flew upstairs. It was evident that the whole hotel 
 had been thrown into a state of agitation by Thekla's 
 flight. And the porter, of his own accord, then in- 
 formed Ilonka that Fraulein Burmester had gone away 
 the night before with a gentleman in evening-dress and 
 silk hat and had not yet returned, on which account her 
 parents and fiance had naturally been thrown into the 
 greatest anxiety. Telegrams had been sent and received 
 and the police probably already put in possession of the 
 facts. 
 
 " What you say ? " cried Ilonka, feigning high indig- 
 nation. " What you talk about ! She just went to see 
 lady friend and they made little trip. I cannot under- 
 stand why letter is not arrive. Fraulein has written 
 right off!" 
 
 With that she ran upstairs without waiting to be de- 
 tained longer by curious questions. The waiter met 
 her with the announcement that the Consul and his wife 
 would be very glad to receive her, and upstairs in the 
 corridor the Burmesters and Prczewalski were already 
 waiting impatiently to conduct her to their drawing- 
 room. 
 
 As soon as Ilonka had been bowed into the room 
 Frau Burmester bolted the door on the inside and then 
 rustled up to her guest excitedly. 
 
 " You bring us news of our daughter, my dear Frau- 
 lein?" 
 
 " Yes, madam, I do," replied Ilonka. Then she fixed
 
 338 Florian Mayr 
 
 her eyes on the handsome Antonine, examined him 
 closely and finally asked, pointing at him unceremoni- 
 ously with her finger, " Beg pardon, is that the fiance ? 
 I think I know him according to description on the 
 
 " Khn, khn ! " snorted Prczewalski, quickly raising 
 his handkerchief to the damaged organ. " I cannot see 
 my nose has something to do with the matter ! " 
 
 " Oh, yes it has, my dear sir ! " laughed Ilonka good- 
 humoredly. " Your whole worthy person has whole lot 
 to do with it. For on your account only is Fraulein 
 gone off. I understand it now very easy, too ! " 
 
 Antonine paused in the midst of his embarrassed 
 nose-hlowing, got red as a turkey and snarled angrily, 
 " Oh, khn what you mean by that ? If you want 
 insult me khn, khn I will demand ! " 
 
 " Oh, don't bother us with your sensitiveness now ! " 
 interrupted Frau Burmester sharply, in feverish curi- 
 osity to ascertain what had become of her poor, mis- 
 guided child, as she expressed it. 
 
 At the same time the consul offered Ilonka a chair 
 and whispered, " Please do not keep us longer in sus- 
 pense pay no attention to that person ! " 
 
 All four sat down and then Ilonka began to tell her 
 story quite cheerily. " Well, you see, the matter, it is 
 very simple: you wanted force your daughter marry 
 man who she did not like. Poor girl could not stand 
 it any longer and is run away I find very sensi- 
 ble!" 
 
 Frau Burmester : " My dear young lady, you for- 
 get what a daughter owes her parents, and " 
 
 Prczewalski : " Yes indeed khn you forget 
 anyhow "
 
 A Sorry Farewell 339 
 
 Frau Burmester : "I really wish you would keep 
 quiet!" 
 
 The consul : " I heg of you, tell us how and where 
 you met our daughter." 
 
 This slight interruption over, Ilonka proceeded with 
 her narrative, addressing herself to the consul. " We 
 met quite alone in ladies' compartment second class. 
 Poor girl sat in corner and cried. I was sorry just 
 asked her why she cried. Eh lien, we made acquaint- 
 ance told me everything." 
 
 Frau Burmester : " But, good heavens, where is 
 she ? We telegraphed everywhere ; and she had no 
 money either ! " 
 
 Ilonka merely raised her hand slightly as a protest 
 against interruption and proceeded. 
 
 " So I said, dear child, is all right not to stand 
 that only donkeys stand everything but you too 
 much not enough experienced and haven't any money. 
 What you want in the world alone, I said. I go to 
 your parents and make proposal, I said. So now I 
 make proposal: you announce engagement is all over 
 and smashed and promise in writing you not force Frau- 
 lein daughter marry any more. Then Fraulein daugh- 
 ter come right back to you to-day." 
 
 " Indeed ! And if we refuse to do this ? " exclaimed 
 Frau Burmester majestically. And Prczewalski sec- 
 onded her : " Exactly, khn if we refuse, eh ? " 
 
 " You just keep still, Prczewalski, will you ? " 
 screamed Frau Burmester, bringing her hand down on 
 the table. "You're to blame for the whole thing! 
 You listen at the door and hear strange voices and hear 
 Thekla go out and do nothing, absolutely nothing at all ! 
 You stay here and order a luxurious dinner and the
 
 340 Florian Mayr 
 
 most expensive wine, in spite of the fact that the people 
 told you Thekla had gone away with a gentleman, with 
 a gentleman whom you had good reason to know ! " 
 
 " Oh, I beg your pardon, mother ! " stammered the 
 miserable Antonine; " I could not go out in the street 
 
 khn in my condition! Oh, just wait, I thought 
 
 I will--" 
 
 " Oh, you thought you will ! " mocked Frau Bur- 
 mester. " What will you do ? You were simply fright- 
 ened to death, that's all ! " 
 
 Before the startled Prczewalski could get out a word 
 in his own defense the consul suddenly sprang from 
 his chair, seized it by the back with both hands -and 
 cried in a voice trembling with excitement, " Damme, 
 you're a you are if you had any honor about you, 
 you would know what your duty was here ! You ought 
 to have withdrawn from this engagement long ago! 
 My daughter can't abide you, and I nor I either 
 I despise you I you may go to the devil ! I don't 
 want to see you any more ! Get out of here, do you un- 
 derstand me ? " 
 
 "Willy!" cried Frau Burmester petrified with 
 amazement. She had never seen her husband like this 
 before. 
 
 The handsome Antonine had turned as white as the 
 handkerchief with which he still continued to fumble 
 about m's swollen nose. He gasped miserably for 
 breath like a fish out of water, stared about wildly and 
 staggered towards the door. On the threshold he turned 
 round once more, shook his clenched fist at Fraulein 
 Badacs and stammered out with difficulty, " Oh, I know 
 who I have to thank for this I do not believe one
 
 A Sorry FareweU 341 
 
 word! I know this Fraulein she is also such a 
 such a Lisztite ! She is in a plot with this Mayr ! " 
 
 "What's that?" screamed Ilonka, taking a few 
 rapid steps towards him. " What you dare to say ? 
 You get out or I have very elastic wrist I " 
 
 Frau Burmester stepped quickly between the two and 
 spread out her arms protectingly before her repudiated 
 son-in-law. 
 
 " Go, Herr Prczewalski ! " she said persuasively. " I 
 regret extremely that my husband was so violent, but 
 you will understand that, under the present circum- 
 stances, you cannot insist upon an alliance with us. 
 It was not to be. Go in the Lord, dear Herr Prcze- 
 walski!" 
 
 Antonine held the door-knob in his hand and hesi- 
 tated a moment longer. " Oh, yes," he panted, " I 
 will go ! But I will revenge myself khn ! I will 
 abandon this land where violence triumphs over the 
 soul I will say shame and shake the dust from my 
 shoes! Good-by, madam, I leave at once. To you, 
 Herr Consul, I have nothing to say more khn, khn 
 you will be so kind to pay my little bill ! " So saying 
 he crossed the threshold and slammed the door behind 
 him. 
 
 " God be praised and thanked ! " cried the consul 
 with the deepest satisfaction, as he let himself fall back 
 into his chair with a sigh of relief. 
 
 Ilonka went over to him, gave him her right hand 
 and said delightedly, " Oh, Herr Consul, you have made 
 me such joy I thank you in Fraulein Thekla's name ! 
 Gracious lady will also promise me to ask Fraulein in 
 future when it is to marry ? "
 
 342 Florian Mayr 
 
 " You see that we are endeavoring to comply with 
 our daughter's wishes," replied Frau Burmester eva- 
 sively. 
 
 Ilonka thought it best, all things considered, not to 
 insist upon a written promise. The consul's behavior 
 had made such an impression on her that she concluded 
 Thekla's freedom of choice was guaranteed for the 
 future, and she therefore took her leave promising to 
 bring the little runaway back to her parents that very 
 day. 
 
 Frau Burmester accompanied her courteously to the 
 door and expressed her thanks for bringing about the 
 reconciliation in a few formal phrases. At the very 
 last she inquired whether Ilonka, since she had been 
 living in Weimar for some time, was not acquainted 
 with a certain Herr Mayr, a favorite pupil of 
 Liszt. 
 
 " But of course, gracious lady ! " replied Ilonka with- 
 out hesitation. " He is very celebrated artist and dear 
 friend of me ! " 
 
 " Indeed ! The hotel people said that my daughter 
 went away in the company of a gentleman, who, ac- 
 cording to the description, can only be Herr Mayr ; and 
 about the same time he disappeared from the soiree at 
 Liszt's. Did my daughter say anything to you about 
 that ? " 
 
 " Oh, not a word, gracious lady," prevaricated Ilonka 
 with a look of the frankest innocence. " Shall I ask 
 Herr Mayr when T shall see him ? Or perhaps he is 
 in love with ITraulein Thekla and wanted to run away 
 with her ! Well, well, this dear old Mayr I never 
 would think that of him ! I shall send him to you so 
 he can explain himself."
 
 A Sorry Farewell 343 
 
 " !No, no, please don't I " exclaimed Fran Burmester 
 quickly. " We shall leave town as soon as we have 
 found Thekla. I hope she is here in the city ? " 
 
 "Of course! We have slept together last night in 
 Jena, and now she is here at my house. Oh, gracious 
 lady, you may believe me, that you would never have 
 seen her once more again if you had not thrown out that 
 handsome gentleman right before my very eyes ! Well 
 now, we will be happy in little half hour you can em- 
 brace Fraulein Thekla again ! " 
 
 The little consul went over past his wife to Ilonka and 
 accompanied her out of the room in the most respectful 
 manner, as if she were a great lady, and even down the 
 stairs, taking leave of her with cordial thanks. 
 
 When Ilonka got home she found her protegee in 
 good company. Florian Mayr had called several times 
 in the course of the day, but, upon hearing in the after- 
 noon that Fraulein Badacs had returned accompanied 
 by another young lady but had gone out again im- 
 mediately afterwards, he had concluded after some hesi- 
 tation to wait. However attractive a tete-a-tete with 
 the loving and devoted girl might be, Florian, neverthe- 
 less, after the severe self-examination to which he had 
 just subjected himself, dreaded the possible consequences 
 of such a confidential interview. If he should be 
 weak again and allow himself to make protestations 
 of affection which might perhaps seem like lies to him 
 later, but upon which Thekla would base all her hopes ! 
 He might even have slunk away again like a coward if 
 Thekla had not recognized his voice and made him 
 come in. 
 
 As Ilonka entered she found Thekla sitting in the 
 corner of the sofa with her face hidden in her hands,
 
 344 Florian Mayr 
 
 and Florian standing with his back to her at the win- 
 dow. 
 
 " Haha ! " she cried merrily, " have I caught you, 
 you turtle-doves ! You jump so far away from one 
 another for fright! Oh, what you need not mind 
 me! But what is the matter? The Fraulein has 
 cried? And the young man makes a face! Oho 
 you quarrel already ? Or is it only parting pains ? " 
 
 " Oh, pshaw ! " exclaimed Thekla bluntly, rising and 
 dashing the tears out of her eyes. And Florian smiled 
 with difficulty and murmured something undistinguish- 
 able about a slight misunderstanding. 
 
 Ilonka had tact enough not to ask any more ques- 
 tions. She gave a very graphic account of her visit 
 to the Burmesters and of the surprisingly vigorous man- 
 ner in which the little consul had given his son-in-law 
 his definite walking-ticket. Thekla was so astonished 
 at this unexpected change in her destiny that she burst 
 into fresh tears and wanted to return at once to her 
 " dear, good, only papa." They then agreed as to 
 what answers Thekla should make to her parents' ques- 
 tions concerning the role which Herr Mayr had played 
 in her flight, so that her narrative should not be at 
 variance with that of Ilonka. Then Thekla got ready 
 to go out. It did not escape Ilonka that Florian still 
 had something on his mind, and she therefore made an 
 excuse to retire to her bed-room. 
 
 As soon as they were alone Florian went to Thekla 
 and whispered, 
 
 " Thekla, darling, we can't part like this ! Come, 
 give me your hand and say you're not angry with me ! 
 I tell you, if I were independent and had a position 
 that would halfway justify my marrying, then it would
 
 A Sorry Farewell 345 
 
 be quite another thing, then I wouldn't care a hang 
 what people, or even your foster-parents, said. If we 
 two only once came to the conclusion that we loved each 
 other, then I wouldn't ask " 
 
 " Exactly, that's just the conclusion you haven't come 
 to ! " interrupted Thekla, with difficulty keeping back 
 the tears. " You mustn't think I'm as stupid as that, 
 Herr Mayr ! You simply don't love me or you wouldn't 
 talk so much about your commonsense and your good 
 intentions. You only said all that yesterday just be- 
 cause I was frightened and threw myself right into 
 your arms. But I know why you're sorry about it to- 
 day ! No, no, you needn't give yourself any trouble 
 you can't talk me out of that ! " 
 
 " Thekla ! " 
 
 " No, no I know what I know ! It's quite right, 
 too, that everything has turned out so ! My darling, 
 good, only papa will see that nothing bad happens to 
 me any more! Please forget how I behaved yester- 
 day ! I'd much rather take piano lessons again and all 
 that than be a burden to somebody who doesn't care for 
 me!" 
 
 " Thekla, that's not true ! " 
 
 " Yes, it is ! Well, good-by, Herr Mayr ! Thank 
 you for your assistance yesterday ! " 
 
 Deeply moved he grasped the little hand that she held 
 out to him and pressed a kiss on the light-brown glove. 
 He tried to draw her to him and look into her eyes. 
 " Thekla, won't you give me even one last kiss ? " he 
 whispered sorrowfully. 
 
 " Why, Herr Mayr, what do you think I am ? " she 
 exclaimed in a low voice, as she disengaged herself 
 gently but firmly from his clasp. Then she went to
 
 346 Florian Mayr 
 
 the door quickly and threw it open with as much noise 
 as possible, as a signal to Ilonka, who forthwith emerged 
 from her bed-room and went out with Thekla without 
 taking any further notice of Florian. 
 
 In about half an hour Ilonka returned and was some- 
 what surprised to find Master Florian still in her 
 rooms. He had smoked up a whole bunch of her ciga- 
 rettes and was sitting on the sofa enveloped in thick 
 clouds. 
 
 " Well ? " inquired Florian with a deep sigh. 
 
 "Well?" mocked Ilonka, "There you are still! 
 What you make for an expression! And Thekla too! 
 Said good-by so cold little more and she might hare 
 give me a tip ! I cannot understand what can it mean." 
 
 " Lord above, she's jealous ! " exclaimed Florian ir- 
 ritably. " That we two have been mixed up together 
 somehow she got on to that right away with the cele- 
 brated instinct that you women folks have for such 
 things!" 
 
 " Oh, go away ! " cried Ilonka really astonished* 
 " Jealous of me ! Mi a menynyJco! Haha ! Splen- 
 did joke I am so sorry I tore up your last love-let- 
 ter!" 
 
 " Oh, come now, Ilonka, you know very well " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "Well, that Thekla isn't altogether wrong," hesi- 
 tated Florian somewhat embarrassed. Ilonka ad- 
 vanced to the table in front of the sofa, fanned away 
 the tobacco-smoke, and looked mockingly into Florian's 
 face. 
 
 " What you mean, Saint Florian ? You got an at- 
 tack of sentimentality, or you already looking for a 
 substitute for the time you cannot have Thekla ? "
 
 A Sorry Farewell 347 
 
 " Oh, what are you talking about ? " cried Florian 
 in a huff. " You needn't impute any such mean mo- 
 tives as that to me. The matter lies just this way, that 
 I confound it. It isn't everyone that can change 
 sweethearts so easily and forget certain things ! " 
 
 Ilonka shrugged her shoulders, laughed, and threw 
 herself into the nearest chair. She stretched out her 
 legs, crossed her feet and began to whistle. Finally 
 she remarked lightly, " Dear friend, you are not re- 
 spectable! About certain things one doesn't talk." 
 And, as he found no reply to this, she continued after 
 a short pause, " I want know nothing about your love. 
 I am good for friendship and be jolly everything 
 else is great bore. Who says I keep him from marry 
 any nice girl that he likes he tells lie and insult 
 me!" 
 
 " But I can't make the child believe that I love no- 
 body but her and never cared for anybody else, and 
 that I couldn't wait to get married that would be a 
 pack of lies indeed ! " 
 
 " Good Lord, you did not tell her ? " 
 
 " Well, I couldn't exactly deny it outright." 
 
 Ilonka threw her head back and clasped her hands. 
 "Holy Florian, what you are for a donkey please 
 not be angry! You understand not one little bit 
 about love, not for one penny ! If you go tell all girls 
 in love such truths, you'll have big lot of success ! " 
 
 Florian gazed at her with an expression of none too 
 luminous comprehension and growled, " I don't want 
 to tell lies!" 
 
 She turned up her nose contemptuously. " Indeed ! 
 If you won't tell lies, you never make your wife 
 happy, all wives want be swindled, and a man never
 
 348 Florian Mayr 
 
 ought get married before lie learn tell fine love-lies! 
 You, my dear Florian, you still stupid just like little 
 puppy, please not get angry you are great lover 
 of frankness. If I wanted be polite I say, you are 
 naive. But you may believe me, nobody but old 
 women have taste for naive men ! So ! Now you just 
 march out here and try digest this wisdom ! " 
 
 And Florian departed thence in a most discontented 
 frame of mind. 
 
 But this was to be only the commencement of his 
 discontent, only a kind of introductory scherzo. Black 
 thunder-clouds lowered over Florian's head. To be 
 sure the Burmesters had left town with Thekla that 
 very day, and he therefore had no hostilities to ex- 
 pect from them. On the other hand Prczewalski had 
 lingered forty-eight hours in Weimar and had made 
 the very best use of this time to deal his deadly enemy 
 an effectual blow. Chance had favored him in its 
 execution by guiding him to a restaurant where he 
 stumbled upon a familiar acquaintance from Berlin, 
 who proved to be none other than the young Lisztite 
 who had made the trip to Jena in the company of 
 Ispirescu and the Crookes. Prczewalski had intention- 
 ally turned the conversation upon Florian Mayr, and 
 as his friend was one of the conspirators who had 
 sworn to avenge the humiliation of Miss Robertson and 
 Fraulein Schonflies, it was naturally not long before, 
 he came out with everything he knew, or thought he 
 knew, of Florian's arrogance, tyranny, and violence. 
 And finally he announced to the eagerly hearkening 
 Antonine with particularly malicious joy that he had 
 it in his power to unmask this hypocrite. It was not 
 difficult to persuade him to tell the story of the Jena
 
 A Sorry Farewell 349 
 
 adventure with all its details. He would never for a 
 moment believe, he said, that Florian had gone to Jena 
 with Fraulein Badacs, because, just as the train was 
 on the point of starting, he had opened the door of a 
 first-class apartment by mistake and seen inside a man 
 whom he had at once recognized by his long, thin brown 
 hair as Florian Mayr, and a young lady in a felt hat 
 and a black veil who couldn't possibly have been 
 Fraulein Badacs. And at the station in Jena his com- 
 panions were sure they had recognized Florian Mayr's 
 figure in the darkness, as he made off with a young 
 lady on his arm. At the hotel he found out from the 
 waiter that tu*o couples had arrived at the " Black 
 Bear Inn," and that one of them was a gentleman 
 in evening-dress with a very young lady in a felt hat 
 and a black veil, who registered as " P. P. Miiller and 
 sister, America." And the other pair consisted of 
 the Hungarian lady with an elderly gentleman who 
 registered as " Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, England." 
 Everybody knew that Mayr had had an affair with 
 Ilonka Badacs and the whole comedy at the hotel had 
 only been put in scene by this obliging young lady in 
 order to cover the tracks of her virtuous friend. 
 
 Two days after this conversation took place, Liszt 
 silently gave Florian, in lieu of his usual morning 
 greeting, a letter which bore no signature but which 
 described the whole adventure at the " Black Bear Inn " 
 with relentless fidelity. In it the Master was most 
 solemnly warned against a person who took advantage 
 of his amiability and good-heartedness to use him as an 
 accomplice by inducing him to invite to his house in the 
 evening the parents of a young girl whom this person in- 
 tended to abduct, against a person whose shameless-
 
 350 Florian Mayr 
 
 ness went so far as to allow himself to be caught with one 
 mistress in order to conceal his adventure with another, 
 and who even dared to secrete from her parents in the 
 house of his first mistress this second sweetheart, an 
 estimable young girl of highly respectable family, the 
 fiancee of a gentleman of immaculate reputation. 
 
 " Well, Florian, what do you say to this scoundrelly 
 trick ? " asked Liszt, as his pupil laid the letter down 
 without a word. " I have never taken any notice what- 
 ever of anonymous denunciations I have a contempt 
 for cowardice, pchah ! I know you will tell me the 
 truth. Look here here are five other dirty scrawls. 
 Each of them contains about the same thing. And 
 they also say that you used violence to prevent people 
 seeing me, that you laid hands on ladies and threw 
 them downstairs, that you assaulted the Pole, to whom 
 I sent you to ask pardon in my name, in so brutal a 
 manner in the Park, that he could hardly drag himself 
 home, and that you mix yourself up in other peo- 
 ple's affairs in the most obtrusive way and treat my 
 most devoted friends most uncivilly, and I don't 
 know what all! Now then, pray vindicate yourself if 
 you can! It's all woman's gossip, isn't it all lies 
 from A to Z? Just say one word and I'll believe 
 you!" 
 
 But Florian was not able to utter a word. Pale and 
 trembling, gazing at his kind Master with staring eyes, 
 he stood there. That, then, was a picture of his char- 
 acter as seen by the eyes of his enemies! And the 
 worst of it was that there was not a single direct un- 
 truth in it all, at least not in the first letter. How was 
 it possible for him to persuade anyone who could not 
 read his whole heart that, in spite of evil appearances,
 
 A Sorry Farewell 351 
 
 everything had passed off in the most harmless manner ? 
 Before his own conscience he had already pronounced 
 himself guilty, and he had lied to his beloved Master 
 too! How should he begin his defense? where 
 should he end? In any case he had behaved like a 
 green and muddle-headed youngster. Ilonka had told 
 him that clearly enough, and he had not denied it even 
 to himself. He was not a criminal, but he most cer- 
 tainly was an ass that deserved a beating. And it is 
 often harder to confess to asinine acts than to serious 
 sins. And so Florian stood there abashed with hang- 
 ing head and could not say a word. 
 
 At last Liszt grew impatient. He took him by the 
 shoulder, gave him an encouraging shake, and cried, 
 " Wake up, my son, speak I don't believe a word of 
 it, do your hear ? Answer me : is it true that you pre- 
 tended to have a headache in order to sneak away from 
 my soiree and run away with the daughter of these 
 Berlin people whom you obliged me to invite ? " 
 "Yes, sir, that is; I didn't exactly run" 
 " Did you go to Jena with her alone ? " 
 "Yes, sir!" 
 
 " Did you pass the night with her at the hotel ? " 
 " Yes, sir, that is, she slept with Fraulein Badacs." 
 "With the Badacs! Ah, sapristi! So it's all 
 true!" 
 
 Pierian was silent. 
 
 Liszt strode several times excitedly up and down the 
 room; then he stopped in front of Florian and asked 
 gently, 
 
 " Tell me, my son, was that at least love ? " 
 Florian gave a frightened shudder, ran his trembling 
 fingers through his hair, made several vain attempts to
 
 352 Florian Mayr 
 
 speak and finally blurted out confusedly, " I don't 
 know!" 
 
 "What, you don't know?" exclaimed Liszt indig- 
 nantly. " So it was merely a reckless trifling with a 
 human being's destiny! Oh, shame, I say, shame on 
 you!" 
 
 " Oh, no, no, no ! " wailed Florian. " Indeed it 
 wasn't that ! " 
 
 " What else was it ? You know that I'm no Philis- 
 tine. If young people with heedless, artistic blood 
 indulge in trifling liaisons that entail no obligation 
 all right I shut both eyes tight! Let free beings 
 enjoy together the happy hours as they flee. That 
 makes life better worth living and is not a question 
 of morals at all. But what you have been doing 
 why, that tramples morality under foot! To seduce 
 a respectable girl, a fiancee, and without even the ex- 
 cuse of love, to make me an accomplice of such a low 
 trick while setting yourself up at the same time as a 
 judge of morals ah, no, no I have made a mistake 
 in you ! You have hurt me cruelly, pchah I promised 
 myself so much from that head of yours it hasn't 
 stood the test that frank, open forehead of yours 
 and your honest eyes have lied to me ! Oh, that 
 wounds my heart! May God bring you back again 
 to your real self ! I will pray for you, my son but 
 go now, go ! " 
 
 Florian left the room in which he had passed the 
 happiest days of his life. He felt powerless to defend 
 himself in the face of the suffering that he had caused 
 his fatherly friend and Master. He rushed home pre- 
 cipitately, locked himself in his room, and stormed and 
 wept for hours without ceasing. Then he made up his
 
 A Sorry Farewell 353 
 
 mind to open his heart to the Master by letter and try 
 to give him a calm explanation of his singular behavior. 
 But it proved to be beyond his power; he could hardly 
 put together more than half a dozen coherent sentences. 
 So he abandoned the idea, packed up his belongings, 
 and, that very afternoon, without saying good-by to 
 a single soul, he turned his back upon the pleasant City 
 of the Muses, where he had found so many joys and 
 honors, so much new wisdom and, alas, such bitter 
 pain.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 The Heaviest Blow 
 
 returned to his parents' house in Bayreuth 
 and there in that quiet peaceful home, surrounded by 
 the love and admiration of the simple old people, he 
 sought to recover his equanimity. He told them that 
 his nerves had suffered from overwork and that he 
 needed a brief period of rest and mental recreation. 
 That Liszt had sent him away in anger because of his 
 moral turpitude was the very last thing he could have 
 confessed to his parents. His mother noticed his ret- 
 icent and subdued manner at once and felt that some 
 secret sorrow was weighing on his heart more than his 
 nervous trouble. His father was disquieted chiefly by 
 the fact that Florian had spent in Weimar almost all of 
 his Berlin savings and was still without definite pros- 
 pects for the future. Time and again he impressed 
 upon his son the necessity of losing no time in looking 
 about for a lucrative position ; he called him a heedless 
 fool and chid him for allowing himself to be lured away 
 from his connections in Berlin which might be called 
 almost brilliant without so much as a glimmer of a 
 well-founded hope in exchange for them. Florian very 
 soon grew heartily weary of the old gentleman's ever- 
 lasting complaints and in consequence his daily walks 
 became longer and longer that he might have an ex- 
 cuse when he got home to shut himself up in his room 
 354
 
 The Heaviest Blow 355 
 
 and stretch out wearily on his bed and think and dream 
 bj the hour. He occupied the remainder of his time 
 about the house in all kinds of necessary and unneces- 
 sary tasks in the line of cabinet-, locksmith-, or house- 
 painting-work. He had a real passion for hand-labor in 
 any form and if his parents had not raised such violent 
 objections to the everlasting hammering, the smell of 
 lime and varnish, and the superfluous expenditure, 
 Florian would have had the whole place freshly pa- 
 pered and painted and all the furniture newly varnished 
 and polished. 
 
 He came home to dinner one fine day, his face fairly 
 beaming with joy. Returning from one of his walks, 
 he had found a letter from Franz Liszt in which the 
 Master begged his pardon for having allowed himself 
 to be forced into a hasty judgment by those anonymous 
 accusations and by Florian's own peculiar behavior. 
 The true state of the case he had learned from Ilonka 
 Badacs and now he thought he understood also the 
 reason for Florian's silence. He bade him be of good 
 courage and not to take his unfortunate indiscretion too 
 tragically. A few years hence he would probably laugh 
 heartily over the affair. But in spite of all this, it 
 would still be better for him not to return to Weimar just 
 yet but to give people time to forget the scandal. Other- 
 wise it would not be so easy to calm the excitement of the 
 " Swarm " and everybody would say : Papa Liszt was 
 old and feeble and let himself be tyrannized over by 
 every " Strong-Mayr " that came along ; nothing else 
 was to be expected of him. If Florian would come 
 to Eome in the winter or to Weimar in the spring, he 
 would be most cordially welcome in the circle of the 
 faithful. Accompanying this letter was a recommenda-
 
 356 Florian Mayr 
 
 tion, couched in the warmest, most flattering terms, 
 which was to smooth his way as concert virtuoso. 
 
 Florian congratulated himself upon .the happy in- 
 spiration which had led him to write to his friend, 
 Ilonka, from Bayreuth; otherwise the Master would 
 not have known his address. It was a great piece of 
 good fortune, too, to have had the clever, experienced, 
 and eloquent Ilonka plead his cause; he himself was 
 too deeply involved in the whirl of contradictory emo- 
 tions to be his own advocate. His good parents were 
 not a little astonished at the miracle which Liszt's 
 letter wrought. At a single stroke Florian's depression 
 vanished and he became again the good, frank, cheerful 
 son of former days. He abandoned his work about the 
 house and plunged into piano practice with an uncanny 
 zeal in order to get together a concert repertoire upon 
 which he could rely. He also applied at once to a 
 prominent Berlin agency to arrange for him a concert 
 tour for the summer through the fashionable watering- 
 places of Germany. Inside of a week his fingers which 
 had grown stiff with rough work had again become so 
 flexible that he could to some extent depend upon them. 
 Then he ventured to call at the Villa Wahnfried which 
 he had never before entered; he left a letter of intro- 
 duction which at his request Liszt had taken special 
 pains to write for him to his son-in-law. A few even- 
 ings later he was invited to tea and after supper he 
 was asked to play. From the music which Florian 
 laid before him, Wagner selected some compositions of 
 Liszt, which are scarcely ever played in public and 
 which demand a quite unusually fine understanding of 
 the poetical and musical characteristics of their com- 
 poser. As Florian was particularly fond of these
 
 The Heaviest Blow 357 
 
 pieces and had studied them under Liszt's direction, he 
 was able to interpret them in a really most finished 
 style. Wagner and his wife overwhelmed him with 
 praise, and certain distinguished citizens of Bayreuth 
 who were among the listeners were proud that a native 
 of Bayreuth should have attained so high a rank. Of 
 course the fame of Florian's success spread at once 
 through the little town. From that time on all his 
 acquaintances saluted him with a certain respect; he 
 had become one of the " big bugs " over night. After 
 this he was frequently invited to Wahnfried and en- 
 joyed many an hour full of rich inspiration, although, 
 to be sure, the cordial reception which the great master, 
 Wagner, gave him had no further practical results, for 
 at that time he already had another young musician 
 working with him and consequently had no employment 
 for Florian. But he carried away with him a warm 
 recommendation in black and white. 
 
 Meanwhile the Berlin agency had secured for him a 
 series of engagements for concerts in Wiesbaden, Hom- 
 burg, Ems, Kissingen, and other watering-places, great 
 and small, and full of joyous hopes he entered upon his 
 concert tour. He had every reason to be satisfied with 
 the applause and the praise of the critics, which he 
 everywhere won, but on the whole he was a little dis- 
 appointed. His personal appearance was not prepos- 
 sessing enough to lend the unfortunate name of Mayr 
 any special power of attraction. His looks did not 
 impress the ladies; he did not know how to pose and 
 assume a lot of strange mannerisms nor to beat the 
 tom-tom of self-advertisement. So it resulted that he 
 rarely played to full houses and hence he made only a 
 modest profit. When he went back to Berlin at the be-
 
 358 Florian Mayr 
 
 ginning of winter, his whole surplus for almost five 
 months of work amounted to but little more than two 
 thousand marks. Florian was clear-headed enough to 
 perceive that there was no great future before him as a 
 traveling virtuoso and that it behooved him to establish 
 himself in a secure position as teacher and conductor. 
 He then conceived a bold plan: he would bring out 
 Liszt's oratorio of Christ in Berlin. 
 
 All too soon he was to learn what a difficult task he 
 had set himself. The agency which had managed his 
 concerts for him was absolutely not to be induced, con- 
 sidering their small gains from his work, to undertake 
 the matter. Equally disinclined were the large musi- 
 cal organizations, academies, societies, etc. A Maecenas 
 to advance the costs was not to be found and the direct- 
 ors of the prominent orchestral and vocal organizations 
 gave him distinctly to understand that if the perform- 
 ance of a great choral work of Liszt's which the public 
 could neither appreciate nor comprehend, was to be 
 brought about at all in Berlin it would be possible only 
 under the aegis of a famous and tried conductor, but 
 " Christ by Liszt under the direction of Florian 
 Mayr . . ." such an announcement would not lure a cat ! 
 Nevertheless Florian was not to be daunted. When all 
 his efforts had failed he resolved to risk a performance at 
 his own expense. 
 
 Everything is to be had for money, even the best 
 things in art. But the best is dear, that Florian 
 discovered at once in his very first efforts to secure the 
 services of some vocalists of reputation for his under- 
 taking. They demanded so much that he would have 
 had scarcely anything left for orchestra and chorus. 
 Then he tried his luck with the "promising" talents
 
 The Heaviest Blow 359 
 
 who had not yet won a name. Some of them who had 
 to work hard for their daily bread were glad to close 
 with him on modest terms, but those who had enough 
 to live on were not to be allured by the prospect of so 
 small a return to place their art at the service of a work 
 by which they could not hope greatly to further their 
 ambition. Some of them were candid enough to tell 
 Florian this in so many words : Some Herr Mayr or 
 other wanted to produce a frightfully long and difficult 
 work of Liszt's ! What fame was to be won by this ? 
 In the great city of Berlin Liszt had at best only a very 
 small following and his church music, being strongly 
 Catholic, was even less to the taste of Berliners than, 
 say, his symphonic poems which, as it was, were almost 
 never heard at important concerts. The Liszt cult was 
 confined to the circle of the youngest German musicians 
 and to a small part of the high aristocracy. If he were 
 at least in a position to say that he had this clique be- 
 hind him ; if he could say : Prince A. has taken fifty 
 tickets for my concert, Princess B. twenty, the Duke of 
 C. a dozen, and so on. Had it not even occurred to 
 him to secure the cooperation of the Countess Tocken- 
 burg who, as Wagner's friend and enthusiastic cham- 
 pion of the new German music, would be the natural 
 patroness of his undertaking? The Countess Tocken- 
 burg, as the wife of an ambassador, occupied a prom- 
 inent position at court and would surely have been able 
 to induce sundry royal highnesses to attend his concert. 
 Had that been the case, he would have had a whole line 
 of competent singers at his disposal and, what is more, 
 gratis ; for then his concert would have procured them 
 invitations to the musical functions at those aristocratic 
 houses which were of prime importance to beginners as
 
 360 Florian Mayr 
 
 being the mints where new names received the official 
 imprint. But without this powerful backing he was 
 only a pianist warmly recommended by Wagner and 
 Liszt, and that meant very little, for in these days 
 eminent pianists were counted by the dozen and Liszt's 
 good-hearted liberality in writing recommendations was 
 already fairly notorious. Even the great Master's 
 presence would be no great attraction for Liszt, whom 
 the present generation had not heard as a piano virtuoso 
 no longer retained any great popularity. To be sure, 
 if the Master himself would sit down at the piano and 
 play a few show pieces, then the highest concert rates 
 might be asked and a full house assured. 
 
 Florian angrily choked down these truths. The peo- 
 ple, who so admonished him, doubtless knew the condi- 
 tions in Berlin better than he. Besides his own meager 
 experiences entirely sufficed to convince him that they 
 were right. The Countess Tockenburg! He won- 
 dered if he could not perhaps procure her patronage 
 after all, if he should knock at her door now, armed 
 with the recommendations of both the great masters. 
 But she had driven him from her presence in shame 
 and disgrace, nay, had even had him shown out by an 
 officer ! It had been a case of being " thrown out " of 
 the most thorough description. If after such a humilia- 
 tion he should again approach the countess as a 
 petitioner, he certainly had not a single spark of pride 
 left. And yet after a long painful struggle with him- 
 self he determined to make the sacrifice for the sake of 
 the good cause. One abominably rainy day towards 
 the end of October, he treated himself to a droschke, 
 first-class, in order to save his clothes and make a good 
 impression, and drove up before the palace Unter den
 
 The Heaviest Blow 361 
 
 Linden. He sent up his card upon which he had taken 
 care to write: "recommended by Liszt and Wagner." 
 It was some time before the lackey returned with the 
 message that the countess regretted that she was too 
 much occupied at present to receive him; but she 
 neglected to mention any time when he might come 
 again. It was therefore quite plain that she remem- 
 bered the painful occurrence of the year before and did 
 not wish to have anything to do with him. 
 
 That miserable Prezewalski had been able without 
 any special effort to produce his wretched patchwork 
 at the Singakademie because he had aristocratic ac- 
 quaintances behind him and the Burmester purse, 
 while for the magnificent work of a master of the very 
 first rank there were to be found neither public nor 
 artists in a city of a million inhabitants ! That could 
 not be, that must not be! All the defiant courage of 
 Florian's nature, all his strong youthful idealism, re- 
 belled at the thought. He would bring all the prophe- 
 cies of the doubters to shame, he would prove to these 
 lukewarm weaklings what a powerful personality 
 could do. He went to an important agent who for a 
 large percentage engaged for him the necessary soloists 
 and a large part of the chorus. For this he had to 
 pay the man cash down. There was just one choral 
 society of mixed voices whose services he was able to 
 get for nothing through personal connections. Since 
 the first orchestra of Berlin was too expensive, he had 
 to content himself with a second rate one, which, how- 
 ever, because of the numerous rehearsals he was obliged 
 to bargain for, turned out in the end dear enough. 
 Finally he succeeded also, after knocking in vain at 
 many doors, in finding a church in the Southwest dis-
 
 362 Florian Mayr 
 
 trict, whose consistory had the courage to put their 
 Protestant place of worship at the disposal of the 
 Catholic Master. 
 
 He now considered all his difficulties happily over- 
 come. The costs, to be sure, considerably exceeded his 
 capital but he was certain that the money for tickets 
 would amply cover the deficit. He put confidence in 
 the amiable phrases of the newspaper editors who prom- 
 ised to support his undertaking and he was more than 
 happy when he found his first reading notice in a large 
 number of the papers, from which, to be sure, many 
 exuberant passages had been elided that he had penned 
 in praise of the great work. Then he attacked his task 
 with fiery zeal. In his large room in the Luisenplatz at 
 the widow Stoltenhagen's which upon his return to 
 Berlin he had fortunately found unoccupied, he held 
 his solo rehearsals every forenoon. Here new and sad 
 experiences awaited him. Some of the singers proved 
 to be so unmusical that it was impossible to teach them 
 their difficult parts; their places had to be filled by 
 others. Some who already considered themselves great 
 artists lost patience and grumbled at the number of 
 rehearsals and at Florian's rigid exactions. The worry 
 over these presumptuous persons who approached their 
 tasks quite without enthusiasm and yet wanted to be 
 handled as if they were eggs, drove Florian almost 
 to despair. Two only, of the women singers, evinced 
 the slightest gratitude for the infinite pains he took with 
 them and they by their zeal and devotion restored his 
 courage. In the chorus, too, he took some modest pleas- 
 ure. These rehearsals were held evenings in the hall 
 of a schoolhouse. There was a deal of sighing and 
 groaning over the difficulties of the work and over the
 
 The Heaviest Blow 363 
 
 never-ending evenings of practice and the members in 
 ever increasing numbers stayed away, with or without 
 adequate excuses. But still, on the whole, they showed 
 a good will and from evening to evening the mighty 
 work assumed an ever firmer form. Florian's heart 
 beat fast when he mounted the director's stand at the 
 first orchestral rehearsal. He was most intimately fa- 
 miliar with the score and at home, baton in hand, he 
 had so often gone through the work that he knew every 
 difficult entrance by heart ; but he had never led a great 
 body of instruments before and he knew well with what 
 malicious pleasure old orchestra players detected at 
 once every uncertainty on the part of a young director 
 and spitefully tormented him by inattention or even 
 by intentionally playing false notes. But for Florian 
 the first rehearsal proved to be also a first triumph. 
 The musicians, who at first had chatted together and 
 laughed and annoyed him greatly by all kinds of non- 
 sense and superfluous questions, soon discovered that 
 they had to do with a man who understood his business 
 thoroughly and went at it with artistic seriousness. 
 At the close of the rehearsal the entire orchestra broke 
 into applause and an old bassoonist, who had played 
 under Wagner in Dresden in 1848, pressed his hand and 
 congratulated him in cordial, simple words, which, 
 after all the disappointments and annoyances he had 
 suffered, filled Florian with new confidence and heart- 
 felt joy. 
 
 Florian was struck by the fact that the greater part 
 of the newspapers had not printed' his last reading 
 notice. That was Prczewalski's doing. As soon as he 
 learned of the contemplated performance of Christ, he 
 notified all the editors either directly or through in-
 
 364 Florian Mayr 
 
 termediaries that this Pierian Mayr was a swindler of 
 the worst kind whom Liszt had expelled from his circle 
 on account of disgraceful conduct; that in addition to 
 this he had never directed an orchestra and for that 
 reason alone was the most unfit champion imaginable 
 of the genius of Liszt for the imperial capital. On 
 the strength of this and without making further in- 
 quiries, most of the editors had simply tossed Florian's 
 next reading notice into the waste basket. 
 
 That was a week before the performance. The ex- 
 citement and over-exertion had already thrown Florian 
 into so feverish a state that he was no longer capable of 
 ferreting out the cause of this sudden unfriendliness on 
 the part of the press. His next notice was to read: 
 " Abbe Dr. Franz Liszt has arrived in Berlin in order 
 to attend in person the performance of his oratorio 
 Christ which will take place on next Saturday at seven 
 o'clock in such and such a church under the direction 
 of his pupil, Florian Mayr." They would have to 
 print that and then all would be well; in Florian's 
 estimation large receipts were already assured. Thus 
 far, to be sure, not a single ticket had been sold and 
 the only audience* that could be confidently counted 
 upon consisted of the friends and relatives of those 
 who were to take part, every one of whom, man and 
 woman, had begged at least two complimentary tickets. 
 Florian's ready cash was almost all gone for what he 
 had not advanced in salaries he had been obliged to give 
 to the agent as a guaranty. He had not even kept 
 enough to procure proper nourishment for himself dur- 
 ing the trying weeks of preparation. He took his noon- 
 day meals in wretched cabmen's resorts or in the soup 
 kitchens and at night contented himself principally
 
 The Heaviest Blow 365 
 
 with bread and cheese. But in spite of all these dep- 
 rivations and the undue strain on his nerves, his 
 enthusiasm for his bold undertaking still kept him up. 
 Confidence in his ultimate triumph grew upon him the 
 nearer the day of the performance approached. His 
 revered Master's joyful gratitude for the splendid sur- 
 prise he had in store for him was to be his greatest re- 
 ward. 
 
 Kot until the evening of his first general rehearsal 
 did he inform Liszt of the great event that was about 
 to take place and invite him to attend the performance. 
 He knew that the Master intended to remain in Weimar 
 this year till the end of October and he was absolutely 
 sure that he would gladly accept and postpone for a 
 few days his trip to Eome. It was five days before an 
 answer arrived. The envelope bore an Italian postage 
 stamp. Florian tore it open with trembling hands. 
 His eyes flew over the lines. Suddenly he cried out, 
 it was a suppressed oath such as one utters in violent 
 pain, again he stared at the letter and then, as if 
 feeling for some support, he grasped at the air with 
 both hands outspread, and fell in a faint. 
 
 The widow Stoltenhagen who was busy at the mo- 
 ment in the adjoining room heard a noise that sounded 
 as if a chair had been thrown violently to the floor 
 and then a dull thud. She ran to her tenant's room 
 in a fright and entered without knocking. Her first 
 thought was that her choleric Herr Mayr had probably 
 hurled a chair at the head of one of the singers' who 
 studied with him and she was going to forbid him 
 once for all to treat her furniture in that fashion. But 
 when she found Herr Mayr stretched out as if lifeless 
 on the floor, holding a letter crushed in his left hand,
 
 366 Florian Mayr 
 
 she clasped her hands together, exclaiming : " My 
 God, he's had a stroke!" 
 
 But, before she summoned assistance, she carefully 
 drew the letter from the fingers of the unconscious man, 
 took it to the window, and with feverish anxiety tried 
 to read it. 
 
 It ran. as follows : 
 
 KOME, HOTEL ALIBERT, VIA BABUINO, 
 
 November 3rd, 1880. 
 " My dear young friend: 
 
 It is hard for me to say 'no.' I cannot possibly give 
 my consent to have my oratorio of Christ which is dedi- 
 cated to his Holiness the Pope first produced in Germany 
 and, especially in Berlin of all cities in the world, for that 
 is the headquarters of the ' kulturkampf ' against our 
 church, and still less to have it given in a Protestant 
 place of worship. You meant it for the best, my dear 
 St. Florian, and I know how deeply I am paining you, 
 but I cannot act otherwise. Even should my ' religious 
 scruples' seem to you of no importance, there are still 
 reasons enough left why a performance of my Christ in 
 Berlin would be displeasing to me. How could I feel 
 otherwise in the face of negative criticisms and why should 
 I not prefer to bide my time in peace alone? In these 
 days the artist reckons without his host if he honestly 
 puts his trust in the public. They listen and judge only 
 according to the newspapers. In a way I profit by this 
 inasmuch as Vienna, Budapest, Leipsic, Berlin, Paris, 
 London, etc., and their most distinguished and influential 
 papers, which denounce my compositions as worthless and 
 repellent, relieve me of all necessity of making a choice. 
 Why give performances for people who only want to read 
 newspapers? Why, too, did you not write me sooner of 
 your plan? Furthermore with the best intentions in the 
 world I could not have gone to Berlin. I stayed in Wei-
 
 The Heaviest Blow 367 
 
 mar unusually late this year and it was impossible to put 
 off my trip to Eome any longer. 
 
 " Take my cordial thanks for your good intentions. I 
 am sure you would have accomplished something excellent, 
 my brave St. Florian, and try not to be angry with 
 Your sincere friend 
 
 FRANZ LISZT." 
 
 Of course Frau Stoltenhagen could not decipher in 
 so short a time the fine rapid rather large strokes of 
 this handwriting but from the first lines she discovered 
 that nothing -was to come of the performance upon 
 which Herr Mayr had worked so long, and that satis- 
 fied her curiosity for the present She then called her 
 niece from Pomerania, who still lived with her, having 
 failed to interest any of the gentlemen who had oc- 
 cupied the room during the summer. By a combined 
 effort the two women dragged the unconscious man 
 to the bed. Frau Stoltenhagen made him as comfort- 
 able as possible, taking off his shoes and outer clothing 
 and unbuttoning his stiff collar. Then she went for 
 the physician, impressing it upon the girl that she must 
 apply cold compresses to the patient's head and not 
 let him stir from his bed. It was impossible to fore- 
 see what a good thing it might be if, when he came to, 
 his first glance should rest upon her as his good angel. 
 It had not infrequently happened that fine young gen- 
 tlemen married their nurses. 
 
 Florian had recovered consciousness before the physi- 
 cian arrived. He looked wildly about and at once 
 recognized the Pomeranian niece just at the moment 
 when she was engaged on her own account in the care- 
 ful perusal of the letter. 
 
 ""Will you give me that letter, you goose, you
 
 368 Florian Mayr 
 
 stupid ! " were his first words and his voice was not 
 exactly flutelike. 
 
 The girl shrieked in terror and with the letter in 
 her outstretched hand timidly approached the bed. He 
 snatched it from her and stared at it, but the characters 
 swam before his eyes and he sank back upon the pillow 
 with a groan. 
 
 It was a long time before she ventured, very softly, 
 to ask if he did not wish a fresh compress. 
 
 " Compress ! What's that mean ? " stammered Flo- 
 rian with thick tongue. Then he suddenly roused him- 
 self into a half sitting posture and in a rage he 
 flung the wet towel which had slipped from his head 
 into the middle of the room. " There you've got your 
 compress ! " he cried hoarsely. " If I could only sup- 
 press you all with it, you miserable mob ! My God, I'd 
 like to smash the lot of you, the whole lot ! What are 
 you standing there that way for, woman ? What are 
 you looking at ? There, take my watch, my coat, my 
 trousers, my shirt for all I care, and take them to the 
 pawn-shop ; if you don't, you'll never see another 
 penny of mine." 
 
 " Oh, Herr Mayr, it can't be so bad as all that ! " 
 said the good niece, trying to comfort him. " Wait till 
 you get well again." 
 
 " What, do you think I'm sick ? " cried Florian in a 
 rage. " I can't be sick, I haven't time, nonsense ! " 
 He pounded his forehead with both fists : " Only you 
 stand by me, you old skull ! ha, ha, ha ! " and he burst 
 into mocking laughter. Then he sank back exhausted. 
 But it was only for a few moments that he rested, 
 breathing heavily; then he suddenly sprang from the 
 bed on both feet. The girl was frightened and started
 
 The Heaviest Blow 369 
 
 to run away but with a loud " Stop ! " he brought her 
 to a standstill on the threshold. He took a few steps 
 across the room and became aware that he was scarcely 
 able to stand. He beckoned the niece and, steadying 
 himself on her shoulder, he reached his writing desk. 
 
 " Oh dear, Herr Mayr ! Don't you want to put on 
 your trousers ? " exclaimed the girl in a kindly tone 
 as she saw him sink into the chair before the desk, limp 
 and exhausted. 
 
 " Will you help me on with them, my child ? " replied 
 Morian, raising his head and smiling feebly. " But 
 don't make any mistake, you won't get anything for 
 it. It's all over with me; to-morrow I'll have to 
 go begging." 
 
 " Oh, pshaw, how can you talk that way ? " laughed 
 the niece good-humoredly, laying her red, chapped, 
 workworn hands consolingly upon his shoulder. " An 
 artist like you don't go to pieces so easily ! " 
 
 " Hm, the toad has some feeling ! " said Pierian with 
 a melancholy smile. " I'll leave you something in my 
 will, Fraulein Frieda. I still own a respectable um- 
 brella; or would you rather have a copy of Goethe's 
 poems ? My God, it's all over with me, it's all over 
 with me ! " He buried his face in his hands and his 
 head fell heavily on the desk. 
 
 For a long while he sat there in this position, just 
 groaning faintly from time to time. He recovered him- 
 self at last and, having sent the girl away, he dressed. 
 When the physician arrived, the patient was no longer 
 to be found. The niece had begged and besought him 
 but could not hold him back. At the nearest groggery 
 he had drunk two glasses of brandy to rouse his flagging 
 spirits and then had, taken his sorrowful way to his
 
 370 Florian Mayr 
 
 agent to tell him that the performance could not take 
 place. 
 
 The days which now followed brought with them 
 trials that it was beyond human power to endure. The 
 agent had cheated Florian shamelessly and, instead of 
 paying the stipulated salaries, had simply embezzled 
 the money. And Florian had put confidence in the 
 man, he had not asked for a single receipt! De- 
 mands for payment and threats of suit showered in 
 upon him. Against the scoundrel who had cheated him 
 he was powerless for he had neither papers nor wit- 
 nesses to produce in evidence and, since he was entirely 
 without means, he was unable to bring suit on his own 
 behalf. Some of his creditors had come to his room 
 to denounce him as a swindler and in some of the 
 newspapers the announcement of the failure of the 
 Christ performance was accompanied by malicious com- 
 ments. Certain musical periodicals in particular pub- 
 lished notices full of spiteful allusions to the bold 
 swindle which another of the so-called " favorite 
 pupils " of Liszt had tried to perpetrate. Florian was 
 no longer able to defend himself ; he had not the strength 
 to put his denials into written form or in any other 
 way to bring his detractors to an accounting. A severe 
 typhus fever had thrown him helpless upon a sick bed. 
 
 In this emergency the most natural thing for the 
 widow Stoltenhagen to have done was to pack her sick 
 tenant off to a hospital, for at first he lay there quite 
 unconscious and consequently could give no expression 
 to his wishes ; besides he was absolutely bankrupt. No 
 one could have blamed her for taking this course, but 
 singularly enough she insisted upon keeping him there, 
 nursing him herself and even advancing the money
 
 The Heaviest Blow 371 
 
 necessary for the physician and apothecary. In spite 
 of the fact that her awful curiosity and her little pecula- 
 tions had thoroughly enraged the good Florian and 
 that for two whole years she had been obliged to swallow 
 in retaliation his choicest insults and most malicious 
 thrusts, yet in her widowed heart a strange feeling of 
 faithful attachment, yes, one might almost say, of em- 
 bittered tenderness had found an abiding place. 
 Doubtless this feeling derived its chief nourishment 
 from the hope that after all fate had ordained that her 
 Pomeranian niece was to become Frau Florian Mayr. 
 This persistent hope had recently been strengthened by 
 the discovery that Florian had called her Frieda a 
 " toad with some feeling " and had promised to leave 
 her in his will his new umbrella or even a copy of 
 Goethe's poems. With this niece, now so full of pros- 
 pects, she shared the not too easy task of caring for the 
 sick man and with fair conscientiousness she followed 
 the directions of the physician. 
 
 When the typhus had reached its crisis and Florian 
 was raving in wild phantasies day and night, Baron 
 von Eied called. He had read the shameful charges in 
 the papers and now had come to learn the truth from 
 the lips of his severely arraigned friend and, if need 
 be, to offer him his assistance. He heard with dismay 
 of the baleful effect which this all too severe trial had 
 had upon the unfortunate Florian. He sat by the sick 
 man's bedside until the physician came. From him he 
 learned that the hope of recovery was only very slight 
 He subsequently ascertained from Frau Stoltenhagen 
 that Florian's financial condition was equally desperate. 
 Although he himself was by no means a man of wealth, 
 he presented the faithful widow with a couple of gold
 
 372 Florian Mayr 
 
 pieces and promised to raise among Florian's friends 
 and acquaintances a fund that should help him out of 
 his troubles; he would also let his parents know what 
 had happened. 
 
 The very next day the baron came again to inquire 
 after the patient. But this time he was not alone. 
 He brought with him a very elegant young lady, who, 
 in spite of the violent opposition of the widow Stolten- 
 hagen, succeeded in making her way to the sick room. 
 It was Ilonka Badacs. She had played at a concert 
 the night before and the baron had instantly sought her 
 out. 
 
 At the sight of her friend so near to death's door 
 she showed deep emotion and announced her firm resolu- 
 tion not to leave his bedside, at least until the crisis 
 should be past. She had brought a little valise with 
 her containing her principal necessities. The physi- 
 cian was very glad to find that in these days of danger 
 there was going to be an intelligent and sensible woman 
 at the patient's side and he did all he could to over- 
 come the jealous opposition of Frau Stoltenhagen and 
 her niece. The conclusive argument in this matter, 
 however, was that Fraulein Badacs made herself re- 
 sponsible for the rent and all the expenses incident to 
 the illness. 
 
 The next night came the crisis. Frau Stoltenhagen 
 and her niece had gone to bed, when the fever returned 
 with terrific intensity. The thermometer which Ilonka 
 had put in his arm pit rose in a few minutes to over 
 106. With wide open eyes Florian flung himself rest- 
 lessly about in bed and talked incessantly, for the 
 most part unintelligible, crazy stuff. He laughed 
 aloud, he thrashed about him with his fists, and ground
 
 The Heaviest Blow 373 
 
 his teeth as if he were in some wild struggle with an 
 enemy. I^ow and then a few names and sentences 
 could be understood. Evidently his Weimar experi- 
 ences again occupied his mind for he called several of 
 Liszt's pupils by name and every now and then spoke 
 the word "Master." All at once he began to shout 
 loudly and distinctly : " I'm a fallen man, fallen ! 
 My God, oh, the deuce and all ! Ilonka don't make 
 me suffer that! Don't you hear? Ilonka, I'm crazy, 
 I'm going to marry you or the devil may sew me up in 
 a bagpipe. What do you want of the English horn ? 
 Slap, bang, now you have it! That's the way, ha, ha, 
 ha ! Hurry up, the train leaves in ten minutes. Oh, 
 you sweet treasure, darling, my only one! It's a lie, 
 it's not so. I won't let you out ! Oho ! ' Finis 
 Poloniae.' See, the funeral barges are coming. 
 There she lies, nothing but flowers, nothing but lilies ! 
 my Ilonka!" 
 
 At this she sobbed aloud and threw herself upon 
 him. Holding his restlessly waving arms fast in her 
 two hands, she brought her face close to his. " No, no, 
 dear friend, I'm here," she cried, " your Ilonka is here 
 with you, just look ! " 
 
 He opened his eyes still wider and stared at her; 
 something resembling a smile flitted over his burning 
 face. She took the ice bag from his head to refill it 
 and gave him his febrifuge. He swallowed it but in 
 another moment he began to laugh, chatter, groan, 
 whimper, and thrash about in such noisy and mad con- 
 fusion that she did not venture to leave his side. 
 
 " What is it now ? What my little dove want ? " she 
 whispered close to his ear, as she pushed the damp 
 hair back from his brow with her delicate fingers.
 
 374 Florian Mayr 
 
 He gazed at her steadily and murmured something 
 which she could not understand. 
 
 " What you want ? You poor dear boy ! Every- 
 thing you want you shall have, if you'll only get well 
 again." His hands groped about uncertainly upon the 
 counterpane. She gave him both of hers and he held 
 them fast, oh, so fast! in a feverish grip. He tugged 
 at them feebly and raised them slowly to his hot fore- 
 head until they rested soothingly, caiessingly on his 
 throbbing temples. That seemed to do him good. He 
 let his own hands fall back limply upon the counter- 
 pane where they lay quiet. Then he closed his eyes 
 and soon began to breathe deeper and more regularly. 
 
 Ilonka was kneeling by his bedside with her hands 
 outstretched in the most uncomfortable position in the 
 world. She ached in every joint ; her limbs grew numb, 
 but she dared not move. Her soft cool touch 
 seemed to hypnotize him ; in a few minutes he was 
 sound asleep. 
 
 The next morning great joy reigned among the three 
 nurses when the physician declared that the crisis was 
 successfully passed and the patient on the way to re- 
 covery. The unselfish devotion of one great-hearted 
 woman had saved his life.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 Victory at Last 
 
 NEXT morning, as soon as the physician had declared 
 the crisis of the disease passed, Ilonka packed up her 
 few things and was driven to her hotel, in order to 
 fulfill the first duty to exhausted nature by taking a 
 good long sleep. And when she awoke towards noon, 
 reinvigorated and as hungry as a bear, she could think 
 only with a shudder of the close sick-room air and 
 all the ridiculously repulsive duties which the care 
 of a patient slowly recovering from fever and weakened 
 to the point of helplessness had imposed upon her. 
 Teremtete ! faugh ! That was not in her line. She 
 had been obviously called upon to stand by her help- 
 less, deserted friend in his struggle with death, and she 
 had done her duty and helped him over the mountain. 
 She had done it willingly too, and heaven might well 
 forgive her a bunch of amorous piccadillos as a reward 
 for her labor of love. But now she longed to live 
 again and be merry. She reflected, too, that it would 
 be dangerous to heap her coals of fire too high upon 
 Florian's crazy pate, for the fellow was quite capable 
 of persecuting her, out of pure gratitude, with his tire- 
 some love, and even offers of marriage, for the rest of 
 her life. Besides she had no more time to waste now, 
 for she was to play at a concert in Dresden on the 
 next day but one, and besides she needed money. 
 Her mind was soon made up. She lunched well and 
 375
 
 376 Florian Mayr 
 
 heartily at noon and then wrote two letters, the first to 
 Baron von Hied and the other to Thekla. Then, after 
 a moment's reflection, she also wrote a line or two on 
 her visiting-card to a music-loving officer in the Guards 
 whose acquaintance she had made not long before. 
 She sent the letter to Thekla by a messenger, who was 
 instructed to wait for an answer, and in the meantime 
 she stretched herself out on the lounge for a comfortable 
 noonday siesta. 
 
 Fraulein Burmester followed almost on the heels of 
 the messenger who announced to Ilonka that she was 
 on the way. 
 
 "How sweet of you to write me! Thank you a 
 thousand times ! " she called out to Ilonka as she en- 
 tered. " I've had such an awful time again, my par- 
 ents read all those nasty things about Herr Mayr in the 
 papers. You can imagine how mamma used them to 
 sneer at me and humiliate me. But even papa be- 
 lieved it all too. I was looking forward so eagerly to 
 the concert. I thought of course Herr Mayr would 
 triumph over all his enemies and be a celebrated man 
 right off. Those were all lies, weren't they, Fraulein, 
 that were in the papers ? If I'd only a suspicion that 
 poor Herr Mayr was so ill ! " 
 
 Ilonka made the excited girl sit down beside her on 
 the lounge and asked with a smile, "Well, what you 
 done if you known, eh ? Papa and mamma would never 
 allow you go nurse him, that would be wrong for re- 
 spectable young lady ! " 
 
 " Oh, that would have been all the same to me ! " 
 cried Thekla ardently. " There are higher duties than 
 obeying papa and mamma when they want one to do 
 something silly ! "
 
 Victory at Last 377 
 
 " Brava ! " exclaimed Ilonka, putting her arm ten- 
 derly round Thekla's slender waist. Then she told 
 about Liszt's letter, which of course she had read, and 
 about Florian's grave financial situation, as much as 
 she herself knew about it. And finally she described 
 the course of the sickness and pointed out the great im- 
 portance to the patient of careful nursing, particularly 
 just now, when the slightest excitement might be the 
 cause of a fatal relapse. And she added a wee but 
 weighty falsehood to the effect that Florian, in his fever 
 delirium, had never ceased to ask for his Thekla. 
 
 " What, he asked for me ? " whispered Thekla with 
 a rapturous smile. " He shall not be disappointed in 
 me. I'm going right to him and I shall stay with him 
 until he doesn't need me any longer! And I sha'n't 
 ask anybody's permission either! It's just lovely that 
 papa and mamma aren't at home. I'll drive right to 
 the house, pack up what's necessary, and then you must 
 take me to him ! " 
 
 " Me ? Oho, I think not at all ! " replied Ilonka, 
 shaking her head. "You just leave me quite out! 
 When he wake up you must be first one he sees. He 
 need not know I was there at all." 
 
 Then suddenly Thekla threw her arms round Ilonka 
 and cried, scarcely able to restrain her tears, " Oh, 
 you're so good, and I'm so bad ! I thought you " 
 
 Ilonka put her hand over Thekla's mouth and said 
 with a laugh, " I know, I know, little one ! No mat- 
 ter we all jealous when we are in love! " 
 
 Then the two girls took an affectionate leave of each 
 other with all kinds of good wishes for the future. 
 Ilonka gave Thekla the address of Baron von Eied, so 
 that she might have a trustworthy friend to turn to in
 
 378 Florian Mayr 
 
 case she needed advice, and counseled her to take as 
 much money as possible with her, as she had not found 
 a single penny in Florian's possession. 
 
 Between five and six o'clock in the afternoon of the 
 same day Thekla and her trunk arrived in the Luisen- 
 platz. Frau Stoltenhagen eyed her with unconcealed 
 disapproval, but nevertheless finally, allowed her to 
 enter the sick-chamber, as she claimed to have been 
 sent by Fraulein Badacs to take her place. Prom rea- 
 sons of prudence Thekla did not give the landlady her 
 real name, so that she should not be tempted to com- 
 municate with her parents. 
 
 Florian still slept the deep sleep of convalescence. 
 When at last, towards seven o'clock, he finally awoke 
 and saw the sweet young girl in the simple gray woolen 
 dress sitting on the edge of his bed, he stared long at 
 the lovely vision, as one lost in a dream, but without 
 emotion, until at last a smile of recognition flitted 
 across his emaciated features. 
 
 " Thekla ! " he cried softly, and his hands groped 
 about for hers. , 
 
 " Yes, I am here with you," she replied, " and now 
 you're going to be quite well again soon ! " 
 
 " Now I'm going to be quite well again soon ! " he 
 repeated after her and continued to gaze steadily into 
 her eyes. 
 
 And Florian really did get well again, though very 
 slowly. It was not until a few days before Christmas 
 that he was able, with the aid of a walking-stick and 
 Thekla's arm, to take a short walk in the open air. 
 But from that time he convalesced rapidly. 
 
 All this time Thekla had lived under the same roof 
 with him. At first she had slept in his room on the
 
 Victory at Last 379 
 
 lounge, and then Fran Stoltenhagen was obliged to rent 
 a small room for her in another apartment of the same 
 house under her own name, in order to avoid reporting 
 Thekla's to the police. Overcoming all false modesty, 
 Thekla had taken upon herself the arduous duties of a 
 nurse with a devotion and thoughtfulness that com- 
 pelled the admiration of the attending physician and 
 finally overcame even Frau Stoltenhagen' s hostility. 
 Of course the good woman was not long in discovering 
 that this pretty, well-bred young lady was Florian's 
 chosen bride and that there was absolutely no more hope 
 for her nieca And Frieda herself preferred to give 
 up her designs upon her aunt's lodger and took a posi- 
 tion as saleswoman in a butter and cheese shop in a 
 particularly military quarter of the city, where her 
 chances of making the acquaintance of nice gentlemen 
 only were numerous. 
 
 From time to time Thekla communicated in a round- 
 about way with her foster-parents, but without reveal- 
 ing her biding-place or the real reason for her absence. 
 What most retarded Florian's convalescence was the 
 unavoidable worry about his money-affairs. The 
 sheriff's deputy called at least once every week to de- 
 liver official communications or make some attachment, 
 and of course this could not be kept from the patient 
 after he had recovered his senses. To be sure, a few 
 of his smaller debts had been met, thanks to the exer- 
 tions of Baron von Ried, but there were still some thou- 
 sand marks outstanding, for which Florian was obliged 
 to give notes, in the hope of meeting them out of the 
 profits of a new concert tour. The room-rent and the 
 expenses of his illness Thekla paid, but towards Christ- 
 mas her means, too, were well-nigh exhausted, in spite
 
 380 Florian Mayr 
 
 of the fact that she had pawned nearly all the jewelry 
 that she had brought with her. And so at last Florian's 
 watch, his evening-suit and whatever else was not ab- 
 eolutely necessary for the moment wandered to the 
 pawn-office. 
 
 But worst of all was the probability that Florian 
 would be prevented from following his calling for 
 months. Playing the piano was of course entirely out 
 of the question until his nerves had quite recovered their 
 normal strength, and then it was very probable that he 
 would need quite a long period of practice before he 
 got back his old technical facility. It would have been 
 very easy for the rich Consul Bunnester to pull a 
 couple of big bills out of his safe and so put an end to 
 all worry, but Florian's pride rebelled against begging 
 of the man who doubtless regarded him as the seducer 
 that had enticed his beloved daughter from the straight 
 and narrow path. That he would marry Thekla, with 
 or without the Burmesters' blessing, Florian had firmly 
 made up his mind. But he wished to earn the means 
 to do so himself. He was not going to accept any 
 money from the Burmesters so long as they threw it 
 to their daughter merely as a kind of humiliating 
 charity. Only Thekla's steadfast belief in his future, 
 the serene cheerfulness which she always showed to- 
 wards him, kept up his courage and drove from his sick- 
 room the specter of anxiety time and time again. 
 
 Baron von Bied, too, proved himself a true friend 
 and called frequently to consult with Thekla about 
 business matters and to further her efforts to brighten 
 up the sick man when he showed a tendency to be 
 despondent. Later on he brought his raven-tressed 
 sweetheart, Libussa Tomatschek, with him, and even
 
 Victory at Last 381 
 
 the handsome Toby Tomatschek, who had a pusillani- 
 mous fear of contagious diseases, consented towards 
 the end to be one of the company when Florian's few* 
 friends gathered in his sick-room for tea. The great 
 man could be very agreeable and considerate on such 
 occasions. He told amusing stories of theatrical and 
 artistic life extremely well, and occasionally played for 
 them on his violin, of which instrument he was really 
 a master. In fact Herr Tomatschek had become much 
 more human since his daughter had scored a pretty 
 success on the stage and had finally been more or less 
 cured of her indolent dreams of genius which had pre- 
 vented her turning her talents to any account. The 
 baron's play, which bore the brutal title, The Black- 
 guard, had proved a failure, but Libussa Tomatschek, 
 who had played the principal role in the piece, had been 
 hailed by the critics as possessing unquestionable talent, 
 so that the baron's efforts had been at least successful 
 in starting this girl, whose queer nature had now at- 
 tracted and now repelled him, upon a regular and rea- 
 sonable course. Otherwise she still remained, as the 
 baron poetically put it, a " pseudo-demoniac terrier " 
 and a " frog with oak-leaves." Even Jean d'Oettern, 
 to whom in noble unselfishness the baron had brought 
 her, that he might complete the task of awakening her 
 femininity, had made an absolute failure of this diffi- 
 cult case. 
 
 At their unpretentious but jolly evening gatherings, 
 Thekla played the hostess in the most charming man- 
 ner. Everybody was in love with her, not excepting 
 Libussa of the frowning brow. Everybody called her 
 " sweet Frau Thekla," and one evening the baron even 
 went so far as to declare with deep emotion that for her
 
 382 Florian Mayr 
 
 sake lie was ready to abjure all his heretical theories in 
 regard to holy matrimony. Thekla's relation to her 
 sick lover was looked upon as a real marriage by their 
 little coterie of friends. 
 
 A few days before Christmas Thekla left her Florian, 
 who no longer had need of her nursing, to return to 
 her parents, Florian would have needed to say but a 
 single word and she would have remained with him 
 as his wife, even without her parents' consent and, 
 therefore, without legal recognition. In the five or six 
 weeks during which she had been with him as a sister 
 of charity she had learned what poverty was with its 
 burdensome cares and the dread of the coming day. 
 She had learned what the illness of the bread-winner 
 meant to a family without means, and how much cour- 
 age and strength of character an artist-life, this weary 
 dragging oneself from disappointment to disappoint- 
 ment, from renunciation to renunciation, demanded; 
 and yet at a sign from the man she loved she would 
 gladly have given up her comfortable but meaningless 
 existence to share his uncertain future. During this 
 period of trial she had developed all her good character- 
 istics to the very best advantage. The reckless dash 
 which, like a canary that has never learned to fly, she 
 had made from her golden cage into freedom, so fraught 
 with danger, had been, strangely enough, a complete 
 success. The strictly watched young girl without pur- 
 pose in life had been transformed into a mature young 
 woman who knew how to use her intellectual and physi- 
 cal powers to good purpose. 
 
 But Florian was not willing to ask a further sacri- 
 fice of her. It was still possible that the Burmesters > 
 or at all events the consul, would recognize her noble
 
 Victory at Last 383 
 
 courage and bring themselves to assent, even though 
 unwillingly, to her heart's choice. In that case it 
 was probable that they would give her out of their 
 superfluity at least enough to keep her from need for 
 the rest of her life. Florian was willing to accept that 
 much as soon as he had worked himself once more into 
 a position where he could present himself before her 
 foster-parents as a man who had won a respectable 
 station in life and a tolerable subsistence. If now 
 Thekla should go further and outrage every rule of 
 custom and decency that her parents held in honor, it 
 might be regarded as a certainty that they would dis- 
 own her entirely and leave her to her fate without any 
 assistance whatever. He therefore advised her him- 
 self to return first to the Burmesters and to do what 
 they wished until he should feel justified in claiming 
 her for good. Nor should she bind herself by any 
 promise to him. As long as she loved him she would 
 wait for him, that was a matter of course. That she 
 would no longer allow herself to be coerced, he was 
 convinced. If she married another, he knew it would 
 be because she had ceased to love him. And he begged 
 her earnestly not to humiliate him by covert financial 
 assistance. He would manage somehow to fight his 
 way honestly through, until he should once more be 
 able to support himself in a dignified manner by his 
 profession. 
 
 With deep emotion the betrothed pair took leave of 
 each other in their Luisenplatz rooms, and then Florian 
 carried her valise for her as far as the Markgrafen- 
 strasse, for both together did not have money enough 
 to pay for a cab. One more silent press of the hand and 
 she pulled the bell at the entrance of the palatial edifice
 
 384 Florian Mayr 
 
 in which she had grown to womanhood, while he de- 
 parted with giant strides without once looking round. 
 
 The consul was out. Frau Olga received the prodi- 
 gal alone. She welcomed her with icy coldness; and, 
 after Thekla had told the simple truth in a resolute 
 voice, her foster-mother, losing all control of herself, 
 overwhelmed the poor girl with a storm of furious 
 threats and insulting abuse. 
 
 " I knew," she closed her passionate outburst, " I 
 knew well enough that you would end this way from 
 the day I caught you hiding that dirty, back-stairs 
 novel under your pillow. With such parents you 
 couldn't help being attracted by what is low. Be- 
 tween us all is over I'll never call you my daugh- 
 ter again! And you needn't think that we shall give 
 you the means to go on living with that fellow. You 
 may just see how you can get on without us ! You can 
 become a sister of charity if you've got such a passion 
 for nursing ! " 
 
 The consul received his pet in quite a different man- 
 ner. He clasped her in his arms without saying a 
 word, and, after she had poured out her heart to him, 
 he let her cry herself out on his breast and even cried 
 with her. But nevertheless he could not bring himself 
 to look with approval upon Thekla's relation to Florian 
 nor to believe in his innocence and magnanimity which 
 Thekla praised so enthusiastically. Florian was and 
 remained for him one who was branded in the eyes of 
 the world, and he was convinced that there was a good 
 deal of truth in the things that the newspapers had 
 said about the young pianist. On the evening of the 
 same day a bitter controversy took place between the 
 consul and his wife, with the result that Thekla was
 
 Victory at Last 385 
 
 informed that after Christmas she would be taken to 
 Lausanne by her father and there placed in an institute 
 for young ladies. 
 
 During the holidays Frau Burmester made a point of 
 appearing at concerts and social gatherings with Thekla 
 and took pains to be extremely affectionate towards her, 
 with a view to disarming the gossip that had naturally 
 been engendered by the mysterious disappearance of the 
 young lady, and Thekla was obliged by keeping silence 
 to substantiate her mother's falsehoods. At home they 
 never spoke to each other. 
 
 Florian' s Christmas was a sad one. His parents had 
 sent him fifty marks at the baron's instigation. With 
 the best intentions in the world they could not spare 
 more. Xor did Florian wish to be a burden to them 
 or to his few other friends who had assisted him in his 
 misfortunes. He preferred to regard all these contri- 
 butions as loans, and resolved not to rest until he had 
 repaid every penny, including the amount of his notes. 
 His friends advised him to ask assistance of Liszt, who, 
 after all, as the real cause of all his misfortunes, was 
 most bound to give it. But of that Florian would not 
 hear. Liszt's pocketbook was already dipped into by 
 so many unworthy persons, who called themselves his 
 pupils and who sent him the bills of their shoemakers, 
 their tailors, and their landlords in return for his kind- 
 ness in tolerating their presence. Florian did not care 
 to place himself on the same footing with such parasites. 
 
 He first tried to earn a living as a musical critic ; but, 
 as soon as he made himself known in a newspaper office, 
 people recalled the Christ fiasco and refused to have 
 anything to do with him. It would have been an easy 
 matter to prove his innocence by producing Liszt's let-
 
 386 Florian Mayr 
 
 ter, but, if he had done so, the newspapers would have 
 taken the affair up again and would certainly not have 
 failed to pour out the vials of their mockery upon the 
 pious Abbe, who did not count the enemies of the Pope 
 worthy to listen to his music, and Florian wished 
 neither to expose his venerated Master to derision nor 
 himself to the suspicion of taking an ignoble revenge. 
 The position in the conservatory that he had formerly 
 occupied had of course long since been filled, and the 
 other schools had nothing to offer him. He could not 
 present himself again at the aristocratic houses where 
 he had formerly received ten marks an hour, for the 
 poison of calumny, injected by Prczewalski, in addition 
 to the denunciations of the newspapers, had not failed 
 of its effect in those circles. Besides it was the cus- 
 tom in such families to require of their daughters' 
 teachers that they should now and then display their 
 art at social functions, and Florian had, to his horror, 
 convinced himself by a first trial, undertaken against 
 the orders of his physician, that he could not play at 
 all. His fingers trembled to such an extent that he 
 was not able to run a decent C-major scale. With that 
 naivete which is apt to distinguish the guild of physi- 
 cians, his good doctor had ordered him to abstain from 
 all mental activity, to nourish himself abundantly, and 
 take lots of exercise in the open air. 
 
 The last part of this advice, at any rate, proved easy 
 to follow. Every morning for a whole week Florian 
 was to be found in the motley crowd of the unemployed 
 that besieged the offices of the IntelligenzblaU and the 
 Voss Gazette in order to get hold of the first moist 
 numbers and scan with trembling haste the columns 
 under the caption "Help Wanted." Then he ran
 
 Victory at Last 387 
 
 about the whole day from one address to another and 
 offered his services as messenger, market-assistant, 
 whitewasher, and everything else possible and impos- 
 sible, but always without success. The only thing he 
 managed to pick up was a few piano lessons in poor 
 people's houses at fifty pfennigs an hour! He was 
 glad to get them. To be sure, he did not show these 
 patrons his recommendations from Liszt and Wagner. 
 
 In order to make use of all his leisure time he an- 
 swered an advertisement in the Voss Gazette for a news- 
 paper-carrier, and, to his great joy, obtained the posi- 
 tion and was assigned to a district comprising a part of 
 the avenue Unter den Linden and the Wilhelmstrasse. 
 In this way he got exercise enough in the open air, to 
 say the least, and also the entry to the finest houses. 
 He took up his new duties on the first of January 
 and one of the first houses in which he left his " Aunty 
 Voss " was the palace of the Countess Tockenburg ! 
 
 It was fortunate that in this aristocratic neighbor- 
 hood he was not obliged to climb many flights of stairs, 
 for he would not have been physically able to do that. 
 He had given up his room at Frau Stoltenhagen's, 
 which was too dear for his present circumstances, and 
 had rented a modest little chamber in a rear house of 
 the new Eossstrasse. At first he returned from his 
 carrying expeditions dead tired and incapable of any 
 other occupations for hours. He earned barely enough 
 to be able to eat his fill in the public soup-kitchen and 
 pay his rent at the end of the month. 
 
 To be sure he meditated upon turning his back on 
 this terrible Berlin to try his luck in some other musi- 
 cal city, ignorant of himself and his misfortunes, but 
 that after all would have been " letting the sparrow out
 
 388 Florian Mayr 
 
 of his hand in order to catch the pigeon on the roof." 
 It seemed best to persevere patiently until his return- 
 ing health should enable him to practice his profession 
 once more. !N"or did he wish to be a burden to his par- 
 ents, quite outside the consideration that he would have 
 to borrow the traveling expenses. His hard luck had 
 only served to intensify his pride, to stiffen his back- 
 bone, and, as the phrase runs, to grow hair on his teeth. 
 He would fight it out alone. He kept his new address 
 concealed even from the baron and his few other 
 friends. Thekla alone, with whom he had carried on 
 a lively correspondence ever since she had gone to 
 Lausanne, knew where he was. 
 
 Fortunately the weather in January and the first 
 half of February had been mostly bright, dry and cold, 
 which so strengthened Florian's nerves that the churlish- 
 ness of the elements during the rest of February 
 and the month of March did not affect his health. In 
 the meantime he had rented an upright piano and be- 
 gun to practice regularly. In the course of six weeks 
 he had made such progress that his fingers again obeyed 
 him willingly; but there was still much to do before 
 he could think of undertaking a concert tour. In the 
 first place he found no time to apply himself to his 
 practice as a virtuoso should who must command an 
 extensive repertory without notes. He therefore gave 
 up his connection with the Voss Gazette on the first of 
 April as well as his fifty-pfennig lessons. 
 
 As he was now in form to play to people and able to 
 make use of his splendid recommendations, he. suc- 
 ceeded in obtaining excellent engagements in well-to- 
 do families as pianist and accompanist, and also as 
 coach for singers in studying their parts. He was thus
 
 Victory at Last 389 
 
 enabled, not only to earn a living, but began as well to 
 lay aside small sums for the settlement of his debts. 
 He also began negotiations with agencies outside of 
 Berlin, through which numerous engagements for the 
 summer were held out to him. And now at last, when 
 the black night of misfortune had begun to flee before 
 the dawn of a happier future; when his dogged pride 
 had triumphed over Fate's crudest persecutions, now 
 at last he sat down and wrote his beloved Master a faith- 
 ful account of all that had happened and asked for his 
 assistance in case a suitable position as teacher or con- 
 ductor should become vacant. 
 
 By return post came the answer from Rome. Liszt 
 had had no idea how disastrous his refusal to allow the 
 performance of his Christ had been for his poor Flo- 
 rian. At the time he had not yet recovered from the 
 effects of his wearisome journey and was already so 
 taken up by all sorts of demands upon him in Rome, 
 that he had not reflected upon the consequences of his 
 refusal. But several weeks later, when, in surprise at 
 hearing nothing further from Florian, he turned the 
 matter over in his mind and discussed it with his young 
 friends, he had indeed come to the conclusion that he 
 had evilly rewarded the devotion of his zealous cham- 
 pion. He had thought, so he now wrote, that Florian 
 had been angry with him on that account, and he had 
 written a long explanation and offered to make good 
 any losses that Florian might personally have suffered. 
 This letter, however, had been returned as undeliver- 
 able. In the most cordial terms, Liszt now expressed 
 the really fatherly sympathy which he felt for the mis- 
 fortunes of his favorite pupil, and promised him not 
 only the payment of his debts but also the most com-
 
 390 Florian Mayr 
 
 plete vindication for the slanders that had been heaped 
 upon him. At the beginning of May he would stop 
 a few days in Berlin before returning to Weimar, and 
 would take advantage of the opportunity to introduce 
 Florian personally to several aristocratic families, as 
 well as to the principal musical potentates of the capi- 
 tal. He already had a suitable position picked out for 
 him, but did not care to talk about it until he was sure 
 of securing it. 
 
 Florian was naturally overjoyed at receiving this 
 letter, and a feeling of such pure joy and exultation 
 came over him as he had never known in his happiest 
 Weimar days. He threw himself into his practicing 
 with fanatical zeal and made astonishing progress. He 
 also rented in a better quarter of the city a larger room, 
 in which he installed a grand piano. His aversion 
 to the society of his fellow-beings suddenly disappeared. 
 The people, in whose houses he taught and played, were 
 delighted with his gayety and his witty Bavarian blunt- 
 ness, and, if he had not needed his time for something 
 better, he might have become the lion of the musical 
 salons. 
 
 He wrote Thekla almost daily, if it was only a hu- 
 morous line or two on a postcard. Out of the unex- 
 pectedly large sum which a rich banker paid him for 
 a private recital he bought a beautiful ring for his 
 sweetheart, which he begged her to regard for the time 
 being as an engagement-ring. She was to do every- 
 thing she possibly could to get permission to come to 
 Berlin during the first week in May in order to be a 
 witness of his triumph. In case he should really ob- 
 tain the position that Liszt had in mind for him, he in- 
 tended to ask her foster-parents for her hand.
 
 Victory at Last 391 
 
 On the evening of the third of May a brilliant mu- 
 sical soiree took place at the Palais Tockenburg to which 
 the very best society of the capital was invited. Even 
 the Crown Prince and his consort, as well as several 
 other Princes and Princesses of the royal family, had 
 accepted the invitation with pleasure, for a special at- 
 traction was promised for this evening: the venerable 
 Master, Franz Liszt, was to be present. From eight 
 o'clock on, carriage after carriage drew up at the en- 
 trance to the palace and a crowd of bystanders waited 
 about in spite of the inclement weather to see the 
 elegant ladies in their magnificent toilettes descend, as 
 well as the highest Court dignitaries, the brightest 
 lights in the worlds of art and science and the mem- 
 bers of the reigning family. Shortly after half-past 
 eight the coupe of the Countess Tockenburg drew up 
 before the entrance. The palace porter, who, with his 
 curved Turkish saber hanging from a broad bandelier 
 of cloth-of-gold, a befeathered chapeau upon his 
 haughty head, and an imposing wand tipped with a 
 gilt ball in his hand, presented such an awe-inspiring 
 appearance that without any doubt the inhabitants of 
 whatever desert island he might have landed on would 
 have thrown themselves flat on their faces before him, 
 this mighty man scorned not to hurry down the stone 
 steps in his own magnificent person and open the 
 carriage-door, for he knew that the countess had sent 
 her own equipage to fetch the great Master of music 
 from his hotel. But the gaunt young man in evening- 
 dress, without a single decoration, who sprang so 
 lightly out of the coupe that his long brown hair flopped 
 about his ears, that surely couldn't be ? The stately 
 porter quite forgot his dignity and stood there staring
 
 392 Florian Mayr 
 
 with open mouth. Well, what extraordinary resem- 
 blances there were, to be sure ! This young gentleman, 
 who was helping the venerable guest of honor of his 
 gracious mistress out of the carriage, was the abso- 
 lute double of what's-his-name the paper-carrier, 
 Mayr, with whom he had so often gossiped in the por- 
 ter's lodge! But what was that? The young gentle- 
 man, who was evidently also a great artist, took off his 
 hat to him, the porter of Count Tockenburg, called him 
 by name and wished him good-evening ! 
 
 " How are you ? How are you getting on ? How's 
 your family ? " 
 
 The porter was too astounded to answer* And be- 
 hold the great Franz Liszt himself nodded pleasantly 
 to him and said : 
 
 " Aha ! The gentlemen are already acquainted ! I 
 am sorry, my dear sir, that Herr "Mayr will no longer 
 be able to bring you the newspapers, for he has just 
 seen fit to accept a professorship in the conservatory of 
 music at Munich ! " And with a hearty laugh the aged 
 Master ascended the stairs on the arm of his young 
 friend. 
 
 When the carriage drove up the porter had made a 
 sign to a lackey who announced to His Excellency Count 
 Tockenburg and the countess the arrival of their cele- 
 brated guest, and thus the great Master was received by 
 his hosts at the head of the stairs. 
 
 As soon as the usual phrases of greeting had been 
 exchanged, Liszt turned to Florian, who had modestly 
 remained a few paces behind, and drew him forward 
 by the hand, saying : 
 
 " Votre Excellence et chere Comtesse vous me per- 
 mettrez de vous presenter mon jeune ami Florian Mayr,
 
 Victory at Last 393 
 
 artiste de qualite superieure et de qui je fais grand cos, 
 moil Je vous demande pardon pour le sans fagon de 
 I' introduction, mais " 
 
 "Mais cela va sans dire, cher maitre," chirruped 
 Countess Fifi in her most birdlike tone. " Je suis en- 
 chantee ah, tiens! Mayr sans e, a/vec y-grec 
 Florian Mayr? Mais je me souviens mais certes! " 
 
 She raised her long-handled lorgnon to her eyes and 
 gazed at Florian critically for a moment, showing her 
 small, white teeth as she was wont to do when her 
 smile was particularly amiable. Then she gave him her 
 hand, which he carried to his lips with a very pretty 
 bow, and inquired: 
 
 "You are the Christ Mayr, are you not? Oh, I 
 was so very sorry not to be able to receive you when you 
 called. I was so deeply interested in your magnificent 
 enterprise and I regretted extremely that you were 
 obliged to abandon it. Unfortunately I was not quite 
 au fait all winter, and yet I had so much to do; you 
 understand " 
 
 " Oh, lie away, you and the Old Nick ! " thought 
 Florian to himself, as he nodded affirmatively with a 
 meaningless smile. 
 
 The Master was evidently amused by the countess's 
 embarrassment. He chuckled in great glee and said to 
 her, " Ce cher Florian, he's a most unlucky fellow 
 hahaha ! He was not very favorably introduced to you 
 the first time. The Badacs pchah cette chere 
 bete! Enfin he's always unlucky haha! But 
 that's going to stop now I won't have it any longer 
 pchah, for I love this young man and I know he will 
 do me honor ! " 
 
 Liszt bestowed one more look of tender affection upon
 
 394 Florian Mayr 
 
 his radiantly happy disciple, then gallantly gave his 
 arm to the countess and entered the brilliantly illu- 
 minated ball-room, while His Excellency the Ambassa- 
 dor did not disdain to form the second pair with Florian. 
 The count had no time to bother himself with musical 
 matters, and was therefore unaware that, in doing this 
 simple act of politeness, he was offering a public vin- 
 dication to a man who had been branded by the press as 
 a swindler. 
 
 Florian was glad when, soon after their entrance 
 into the ball-room, the count was obliged to leave him 
 in order to fulfill more important duties. He with- 
 drew immediately into a corner, whence, thanks to his 
 height, he could overlook the gay and brilliant throng. 
 About noon he had received a note from Thekla who 
 had arrived ill Berlin the night before. The good- 
 hearted consul had prevailed upon his wife, though with 
 much difficulty, to allow their daughter to come home. 
 The Burmesters had also received invitations for this 
 evening, but Thekla was not sure that she would be 
 allowed to go, as she had no new gown elegant enough 
 for a soiree at the Countess Tockenburg's. With 
 beating heart Florian looked about him. He would 
 have been desperately unhappy if his sweetheart had 
 been absent on this, his evening of honor. The Mas- 
 ter had promised him to arrange it so that he should 
 be asked to play. He was well prepared, but, if 
 Thekla was not among his hearers, it would be all up 
 with his exultant confidence, for he felt that in that 
 case he would be uneasy, and this evening of all others 
 he must play welL Just then he caught sight, in the 
 midst of the throng in the middle of the hall, of a 
 tall lady in a sleeveless gown of yellow silk, who was
 
 Victory at Last 395 
 
 so startlingly scrawny that it could only be Fran Olga 
 Burmester. With undignified precipitation he made 
 his way through the crowd of distinguished guests into 
 the vicinity of the gaunt lady, and, sure enough, it was 
 Frau Olga. And not far from her, in conversation 
 with an exquisite young lieutenant of Hussars, stood 
 the little consul with his Thekla on his arm. She 
 had on the same white gown that she had worn the 
 winter before in this very room, but the shy young 
 girl of a year ago had became a full-blown beauty. 
 What eyes the little Hussar made! Florian felt a 
 twinge of jealousy but suddenly Thekla caught 
 sight of him. A radiant smile of joy lighted up her 
 face; she dropped her father's arm and hurried to- 
 wards him with outstretched hand. 
 
 Long and tight he held the little hand in his and 
 said only, " There you are ! " 
 
 " Yes, here I am again ! " she whispered back. 
 And they stood there thus hand in hand, right in the 
 midst of the flood of light, surrounded by the thou- 
 sand-voiced murmur of the chattering company, gaz- 
 ing steadfastly into each other's eyes, lost to the world, 
 intoxicated dumb with joy until the consul ap- 
 proached them with a very timid, " Ah, good evening, 
 Herr Mayr!" 
 
 Without a word Florian grasped the fleshy hand 
 of the little man and shook it cordially. And now the 
 Frau Consul also joined the group. 
 
 " Ah, Herr Mayr, you here too ? " she exclaimed 
 acidly, bestowing at the same time a severely critical 
 look upon her daughter. " Well, you seem to be get- 
 ting on very nicely. You have recovered remark- 
 ably!"
 
 396 Florian Mayr 
 
 " Yes, thank you, ma'am, I'm very well indeed ! " 
 replied Florian cheerily. " I dare say you're sur- 
 prised to find me here after what happened last year. 
 But this time I have a better introduction, you know, 
 the Master wishes to have me play to-night ! " 
 
 " Ah, indeed ! " answered Frau Burmester, looking 
 down on him with a smile of incredulity. " I didn't 
 notice your name on the programme." And she 
 handed him with two fingers an elegantly printed card. 
 
 Of course his name was not there; he knew that 
 well enough, but nevertheless he read the programme 
 through. The names of the performers were nearly 
 all good and well-known, and amongst them An- 
 tonine Prczewalski! 
 
 " He too ! " involuntarily cried Florian aloud. 
 Then he handed the programme back to the Frau 
 Consul with a shrug and said, 
 
 " Xever mind, the Master will arrange it all right ! " 
 
 And the Master did indeed arrange it in a very sim- 
 ple manner. When the countess handed him the pro- 
 gramme to read he made a grimace as his eye fell on 
 the name " Prczewalski," and he exclaimed with a 
 frown that made his white eye-brows stand out, " Oh, 
 that fellow ! I know him ! That's ' Finis Poloniae ' ! 
 Well, if he plays very finely indeed perhaps I'll beg 
 his pardon, pchah! On one occasion I prompted him 
 with a somewhat loud souflet ! " 
 
 Countess Fifi, who of course did not understand the 
 pun, replied seriously in a tone of regret, " I am 
 sorry to say that this number must be omitted. I have 
 never heard the gentleman play myself, but he was 
 recommended to me by distinguished art-patrons. He 
 sent his regrets only an hour ago. Very likely he
 
 Victory at Last 397 
 
 doesn't trust himself to play before you, dear Mas- 
 ter!" 
 
 " Oho, bravo ! " laughed Liszt much amused. 
 " Then let my Saint Florian ride his parade-charger 
 in his place." 
 
 The countess readily assented to this, and when 
 Prczewalski's turn came a young officer mounted the 
 platform and announced that, in the place of the in- 
 disposed Pole, Herr Florian Mayr would, at the special 
 request of Herr Doctor Franz Liszt, play The Legend 
 of Saint Francis on the Sea. 
 
 Florian's success was complete. The Master patted 
 him on the head before all the world, and the princely 
 and noble guests actually crowded about him during 
 the intermission to congratulate him, and honored him 
 with invitations to their own musicales. 
 
 When the soiree came to a close and the imperial 
 and royal highnesses had departed, Florian went up to 
 Liszt, and, with a deep blush, begged permission to 
 introduce his intended bride. 
 
 "Tiens!" exclaimed the Master gayly. "Is the 
 young lady here? Have you already surmounted all 
 the difficulties?" 
 
 " Well, no," replied Florian somewhat abashed. 
 " I don't believe her parents want anything to do with 
 me even yet. I despair of the mother anyhow." 
 
 " Wait, my son, I will help you ! " rejoined Liszt 
 with his kindly smile, and he allowed himself to be led 
 through the throng of departing guests to where the 
 Burmesters were standing. 
 
 " Ah, my friends, I am very glad to meet you 
 again ! " he cried, approaching the group with out- 
 stretched hands. " You were kind enough to honor
 
 398 Florian Mayr 
 
 me when you were in Weimar. How do you do ? 
 You are great music-lovers, are you not ? " 
 
 Frau Burmester was almost put out of countenance 
 by the honor of this address and answered only with 
 a low court bow, while the little consul replied with 
 droll embarrassment, " Oh, I I am quite a layman, 
 I I only tag along, but my wife is extremely mu- 
 sical!" 
 
 " Is this your daughter ? " asked Liszt with a nod 
 towards Thekla. She approached and dropped a re- 
 spectful curtsey. Then Liszt took her little hand be- 
 tween his own mighty ones and said, as he stroked it 
 tenderly, " My dear child, I know you well ! I have 
 heard so many nice things about you. You saved the 
 life of my Florian. You are a brave girl, and so 
 pretty too ! Your parents must be proud of you, and 
 our dear, stupid Florian doesn't always have bad luck, 
 does he ? Hahaha ! In Weimar they used to call him 
 ' Strong-Mayr,' but after this I shall call him ' Luck- 
 Mayr ' ! Enfin bravo ! r) And he drew the deeply 
 blushing girl gently to- him and kissed her on the 
 forehead like a father. Then he turned smiling to 
 Florian and gave him his right hand, while he held 
 Thekla's still in his left, and called out so loud that the 
 whole crowd of curious bystanders could hear, 
 
 " My dear Professor, I congratulate you from the 
 bottom of my heart ! " And, turning to Frau Bur- 
 mester, he added in a loud tone, " My dear madam, 
 when will you announce the engagement ? " 
 
 Frau Olga, probably for the first time in her life, 
 stared helplessly at her husband. But her confusion 
 lasted but a few seconds. Oh, it was not so easy to
 
 Victory at Last 399 
 
 bluff her ! A transitory flush suddenly shot into her 
 cheeks and her eyes flashed. 
 
 " Oh," she exclaimed excitedly, her breath coming 
 quick, " I thought to-morrow evening just amongst 
 ourselves ! It would be a great honor for us if we 
 might welcome you, reverend sir, at our little celebra- 
 tion!" 
 
 Liszt laughed in high glee and then said with a 
 polite bow, " My dear madam, you have caught me 
 fairly ! I had really intended to be in Weimar by to- 
 morrow night, but no! The betrothal of my Flo- 
 rian that is an event, I can't afford to miss that ! 
 Au revoir, my friends ! " 
 
 During the whole of the next day Frau Burmester 
 spoke not a word with Thekla. She simply had no 
 time to do so. Early in the morning she and her hus- 
 band wrote over fifty invitations to a reception in honor 
 of the engagement of their daughter to the " Eoyal 
 Bavarian Professor of Music, Florian Mayr, in the 
 presence of the Herr Abbe, Doctor Franz Liszt." A 
 whole regiment of messengers was engaged to trans- 
 mit these invitations, and then Frau Olga drove out 
 to order a luxurious supper from one of the first 
 caterers in the city and to make other necessary prepa- 
 rations. 
 
 As very few of those invited sent regrets, Liszt 
 found on his arrival a company, " just amongst our- 
 selves," of at least sixty people. The function proved 
 a very tedious one until supper was announced, but 
 the excellent viands and generous wines at last warmed 
 the company into more festive spirits. Consul Bur- 
 mester announced the engagement in few but extremely
 
 400 Florian Mayr 
 
 cordial words, and then Liszt proposed the health of 
 the prospective bridegroom, after he had given the 
 company, in a most unconventional tone and in his own 
 witty, slightly ironical manner, a description of the 
 excellent characteristics of his Saint Florian, who, 
 from a " guileless fool," had passed through a dreadful 
 state of " Strong-Mayrdom " and finally developed into 
 the most enviable of all professors. Liszt said all this 
 without rising from his seat, just as if he were chatting 
 with the guest who sat next him, but of course the whole 
 table listened in absolute silence, only to break forth 
 in loud applause and cries of " Hoch ! " as the Master 
 finished and clinked glasses with Pierian. 
 
 When the ices were served Florian, unwontedly in- 
 spired by the succession of fiery wines, rose and pro- 
 posed a toast to his fiancee's " revered parents, under 
 whose faithful protection and loving care this delicate 
 rosebud, orphaned at its very birth, had burst into full- 
 blown beauty ! " It was one of those abominably ab- 
 surd speeches, larded thick with monstrous falsehoods, 
 that are wont to be launched by enthusiastic orators on 
 all festive occasions. Florian himself had but a dim 
 idea of the drivel with which, in the double exhilaration 
 of wine and felicity, he regaled his hearers. But they 
 were nevertheless mightily edified by it, and Frau 
 Olga, who had awaited the end of his toast with an ex- 
 pression of anxious suspense, went so far as to kiss him 
 on both cheeks and called him by his first name from 
 that solemn moment. 
 
 After supper Liszt sat down at the piano and im- 
 provised a brilliant fantasia, full of power and exult- 
 ing joyousness, on all manner of well-known love- 
 motifs and wedding-marches. Florian and Thekla sat
 
 Victory at Last 401 
 
 hand in band in front of the piano with their eyes 
 steadfastly fixed on the aged Master's face, upon which 
 the changing moods of his marvelous playing were ex- 
 pressed with inimitable clearness. 
 
 " What a magician ! " she said afterwards to Florian. 
 " I don't believe there's a person living, no matter how 
 unmusical, who wouldn't understand the most difficult 
 music when Liszt played it. I'm so happy to have 
 heard him at least once ! " 
 
 " Yes, you're right there, sweetheart," replied 
 Florian. " The rest of us really ought to be ashamed 
 to try to play the piano, hey ? " 
 
 The company was of course half crazy with delight 
 and Frau Burmester looked almost pretty, her face 
 was so radiant with triumph. Liszt had improvised 
 upon her grand piano ! Now there was not a single 
 house in all musical Berlin whose rivalry she need fear. 
 And after all she had to thank this terrible Herr Mayr 
 for all that ! Oh, he was such a delightful man and 
 " Professor " didn't sound so bad either ! 
 
 The engagement announcements were sent out next 
 day, and hurriedly written postcards to the more in- 
 timate friends. But Fraulein Ilonka Badacs received 
 a telegram. The wedding was set for the end of 
 August, after Florian had finished his summer concert 
 tour. Baron von Eied was to be best man and Ilonka 
 Badacs bridesmaid. The faithful girl accepted with 
 enthusiasm. She declared she would fly to Berlin for 
 the ceremony, even though she were in New York or 
 Odessa. 
 
 But it so happened that she played in a concert at 
 Leipsic the night before the wedding, so that she was 
 not obliged to put her friendship to so severe a test.
 
 402 Florian Mayr 
 
 But in spite of all she did not come ! On the morn- 
 ing of the wedding Florian received a letter which ran 
 as follows: 
 
 " Verry dear friend! 
 
 I pleased myself so much about your festive celebration 
 but now the circumstances force me force majeur, as 
 one says, that I cannot come. Such Christian family- 
 celebrations with a lot of awful respectable people make 
 me nervous, where you always have to look down pious on 
 ground or they look at you over the shoulder! 
 
 Believe me, verry dear friend, I run away from my 
 own wedding if that uncommon stupid Count ever marry 
 me. I got already offer from him in Pest, but I not yet 
 decide me because he show suspicious traces of intelli- 
 gence ! In meantime I go tomorrow on little pleasure 
 trip to the Switzerland with my verry dear friend, Jean 
 d'Oettern. 0, he is verry celebrated man! He also like 
 you verry much and he lay himself though unknown at 
 the Fraulein Bride her feet. How much I wish you joy, 
 you know that all right. The darling sweet Fraulein 
 Thekla I beg to kiss thousand times for me especially 
 on little earlap, that is sweetest thing on her ! Tomorrow 
 I drink with Jean d'Oettern a bottle of champagne and 
 cry Eljen Florian and Thekla! 
 
 Forever (thine) your verry sincerely 
 
 ILOXKA BADACS. 
 
 P. S. The devil he take the German orthographic 
 I never learn him !" 
 
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