“After all, my father,” said Wolfgang, as they returned home, “it was not worth while to come from Vienna to Paris to hear such music.” Leopold pressed his boy’s hand, as he thought that this fresh impulse of genius made him a better judge than all the educated and schooled connoisseurs of Paris.
Returning to the hotel of the Trois Turcs, they found an invitation from the Baron d’Holback to a soirée the next evening. But this, and how young Mozart played the organ in the royal chapel, and by his performance and his sonatas, gave the first intimation of that wonderful genius that was to work a revolution in music, it belongs not to our present task to describe.
“DON GIOVANNI.”
THE ARRIVAL.
A light travelling carriage stopped before the hotel of the Three Lions, in Prague. A drove of servants poured out of the house; one opened the carriage door, and assisted an elegant young lady to alight; she sprang out, and was followed by a young man, humming a cheerful tune.
“St. Nepumuck!” cried the host, who had come to the door; “do I see aright? Herr von Mozart?”
“You see, I keep my word!” replied Mozart, saluting him cordially. “Yes! here I am once more, and you may keep me till after harvest; and as a surety for my wise behavior, I have brought my wife along with me.”
The host bowed low to the fair lady, and began a set speech with the words—“Most honored Madam von Mozart—”
“Leave your speechifying, man!” cried Mozart, interrupting him, “and show us our quarters; and let us have some refreshments; and send a servant to Guardasoni, to inform him that I am here.” He gave his arm to his lady, and stepped into the house, followed with alacrity by the host, and the servants with trunks and band-boxes, which they had unpacked from the carriage. A handsome young man, who just then crossed the market, when he heard from a footman the name of the newly arrived guest, rushed up the steps, and into Mozart’s chamber, and threw himself into his arms with an exclamation of joy.
“Ho, ho! my wild fellow!” cried Mozart, “you were near giving me a fright!” and turning to his wife, he presented the young stranger to her. “Well, how do you like him? this is he—Luigi Bassi, I mean.”