nately, instead
of leading-strings there are probably awaiting me crutches, if
I approach old age with my present step. I once dreamt that I
was dying in a hospital, and this is so strongly rooted in my
mind that I cannot forget it--it is as if I had dreamt it
yesterday. If you survive me, you will learn whether we may
believe in dreams.

And now I often dream with my eyes open what may be said to
have neither rhyme nor reason in it.

That is why I write you such a foolish letter, is it?

Send me soon a letter from my people, and love your old

FREDERICK.

[6.] Nohant [1841].

Thanks for your very kind letter. Unseal all you judge
necessary.

Do not give the manuscripts to Troupenas till Schubert has
informed you of the day of publication. The answer will very
likely come soon through Leo.

What a pity that the Tarantella is gone to Berlin, for, as you
know from Schubert's letter, Liszt is mixed up in this
monetary affair, and I may have some unpleasantness. He is a
thin-skinned Hungarian, and may think that I do not trust him
because I directed that the manuscripts should not be given
otherwise than for cash. I do not know, but I have a
presentiment of a disagreeable mess. Do not say anything about
it to the ailing Leo; go and see him if you think it
necessary, give him my compliments and thanks (although
undeserved), and ask pardon for troubling him so much. After
all, it is kind of him to take upon him the forwarding of my
things. Give my compliments, also to Pleyel, and ask him to
excuse my not writing to him (do not say anything about his
sending me a very inferior piano).

I beg of you to put into the letter-box at the Exchange
yourself the letter to my parents, but I say do it yourself,
and before 4 o'clock. Excuse my troubling you, but you know of
what great importance my letter is to my people.

Escudier has very likely sent you that famous album. If you
wish you may ask Troupenas to get you a copy as if it were for
me; but if you don't wish, say nothing.

[FOOTNOTE: Leon Escudier, I suppose. The brothers Marie and
Leon Escudier established a music business in the latter part
of the fourth decade of this century; but when soon after both
married and divided their common property, Marie got their
journal "La France Musicale" and Leon the music-business. They
wrote and published together various books on mu