"What a genius is doing, whom I seek to resemble if only by perseverance; I copy music," replied the rebel.
"You copy music?" queried Andrea, turning round. "Then you know it?" in the tone of one saying, "You are a liar."
"I know the notes, and that is enough for copying. I like music dearly, and I used to listen to the lady playing at the
harpsichord."
"You eavesdropper!"
"I got the airs by heart to begin with; and next, as I saw they were written in a book, I saw a method in it and I learnt it."
"You dared to touch my book?" said Andrea, at the height of indignation.
"I had no need to touch it; it lay open. I looked, and there is no soiling a printed page by a look."
"Let me tell you," sneered the baron, "that we shall have this imp declare that he can play the piano like Haydn."