rank disobedience--and
said to them: "Liszt is coming to me at five o'clock. If you would like
to hear him, and consent to be hidden behind a door, I will invite
you." They all accepted with rapture, and were assembled in the little
_salon_ before the time appointed. The door was left open and a large
screen placed before it.

Johan fetched Liszt in our carriage, as he always does. I received him
and the book of _Lieder_, which he brought with him. (Only Johan and
Nina were present.) He opened the book at "_Comment disaient
ils?_"--one of his most beautiful songs, which has an exquisite but
very difficult accompaniment. He played with fairy fingers, and we went
over it several times. I could see the screen swerving and waving
about; but Liszt's back was turned, so he could not see it.

After we had finished tea was served, and then he said, "Have you heard
my 'Rigoletto'?"

"Yes," I said, "but not by you."

"Well," he said, "I will play it for you. Your piano is better than the
one I have. It is a pleasure to play on it."

The screen, now alive with emotion, almost tipped over. After
"Rigoletto" he played "_Les soirees de Vienne_," and this time the
screen actually did topple over and exposed to view the group of ladies
huddled behind it. I shuddered to think how the Master would take this
horrible treachery.

He took it better than I expected--in fact, he laughed outright. The
ladies came forward and were presented to him, and were delighted. I am
sure that Liszt was, too; at any rate, he laughed so much at my ruse
and contrition that the tears rolled down his cheeks. He wiped them
away with his pocket-handkerchief, which had an embroidered "F.L." in
the corner. This he left behind, and I kept it as a souvenir.

Some days after this there was a large dinner given by the German
Ambassador (Herr von Keudell) for the Princess Frederick Carl. Liszt
and many others, including ourselves, were present. The Ambassador
allowed the gentlemen only a short time to smoke; he gave them good but
small cigars. I do not know how the great Master liked this, for he is
a fervent smoker. However, as _le charbonnier est maitre chez lui_, our
host had his way and the music commenced, as he wished, very soon after
dinner. Both the Ambassador and his wife are perfect pianists.

They play four-hand pieces on two pianos. On this occasion, to do honor
to the famous composer, they grappled with a formidable work by Liszt,
called "Mazepp