lf, only I'm up to my ears in classes and lectures as it
is.--And the thing opens in November!--Who is to take the main body of
the students, for Heaven's sake?"

"Laroche!" shouted Ivan.

"Irresponsible; and--too much money."

"Um--a--oh--this new man we hear of--Monsieur Kashkine, of Moscow."

"He's literary, rather than musical. No real time for classes."

"Wieniawski, then?"

"By nature a virtuoso. It would be rather a pity to waste his technique
and pin him down to a teacher's life. With a composer, the thing's
different. One can always find time for composition, even while
teaching. But practice knocks any possibility of other work on the head
at once."

There was a pause. Ivan, at the end of his suggestions, began to feel
puzzled at Rubinstein's coming to him with such questions at all.
Presently, however, he decided that this was not the real object of the
visit; and asked, with a change of tone: "Well, have you some new work
for me?--Some copying?"

"I've got some new work for you, certainly. But not copying."

"What then?"

"Well--this. I want you to leave here for Moscow, with me, in five days;
and prepare to take Serov's place in the new Conservatoire."

"_What!_" The exclamation was low, and absolutely incredulous.

"You heard me. Aren't you perfectly well fitted to teach theory and
harmony laws, and the principles of composition, to a lot of
ignoramuses, at one hundred roubles a month?"

Before Nicholas had finished, Ivan jumped to his feet and began to pace
up and down the attic-room. In his cheeks there appeared two vivid spots
of red; and his eyes shone, peculiarly. Rubinstein sat puffing at the
pipe for which he had just exchanged his cigar; while he stared about
the bare room, and waited, patiently, for his sudden proposition to sink
home. He was unprepared, however, for what came. Ivan presently stopped
in front of him, saying, hurriedly:

"You know I was born in Moscow?"

"I have heard it."

"My father lives there."

"That will be fortunate for you."

"Oh! but--he--I'm disinherited, you know! And--where should I live,
there, on my hundred roubles a month?"

"Well, it is not a large sum; but it can be done. Besides, as soon as we
prove the thing a success, we'll increase the salaries. Also, you shall
have time to work on your own little ideas.--Ah! I have it!--I've an
apartment, close to the Conservatoire. It's furnished, and
Shradik--violin, you know--is living there already