Forgot to Eat
Beethoven dined now and then at an inn on the flour-market at Vienna. One day he came at half past two, and sat down in his lonely corner, without greeting any of the guests present, a courtesy he had never before omitted. The waiter who knew him, brought him a bottle of the ordinary table wine which Beethoven usually drank, and put the menu before him.
The great composer broke his roll, pulled a notebook from his pocket, leaned his head on his hand and remained in this attitude, writing now and then in the book, until six o’clock in the evening. Suddenly he jumped up and cried: “Waiter, I wish to pay my bill!”
“Oh, but your Honor has not eaten a thing to-day!”
“Haven’t I? Well, all right!” said Beethoven, and took his hat and went out.