“Does he play so very well?” said the little princess.
“Magnificently, I hear from all sides,” replied the Empress.
“Then why may we not hear him right away? I am really very curious about it,” said Marie Antoinette, looking at Wolfgang as if challenging him to play.
Wolfgang’s artistic pride was aroused, for there was something in the manner of the little princess that impelled him to do the best he could. With kindling eyes he looked about him, and stepped up to the piano to give them an example of his skill. The Emperor, however, interposed. “Hold, little man,” said he. “You have just asserted that none of these ladies and gentlemen know enough to judge of your playing—who then shall be the umpire?”
With scarcely an instant’s hesitation Wolfgang replied, “Oh, I know an excellent one,—Herr Wagenseil,[15] the Empress’s music teacher. He understands music. If convenient, send for him.”
“All right; it shall be done,” said the Emperor, who at once ordered a servant to summon that famous composer and pianist. In the meantime Wolfgang went to his sister, took her by the hand, and led her to the Empress without any ceremony. “See, Your Majesty,” said he, introducing her, “this is Nannerl, my sister. She plays as well as I do.” The Empress laughed heartily at the odd ways of the little fellow, addressed a few kind words to Nannie, and then beckoned to Father Mozart, with whom she conversed most affably about the children and music. In the meantime Wolfgang and Nannie chatted with the princes and princesses, and Wolfgang was so loud in his praises of his sister that it attracted Maria Theresa’s notice. “Look here, little one,” she said, stretching her hands out to him as before, “do you really love your Nannerl so very much?”
“Oh, yes, Lady Empress,” eagerly replied Wolfgang, pressing her Majesty’s hand with childlike freedom. “Of course I love her, but I also love you, for you please me very much.”
“That is extremely flattering to me,” replied the Empress, “but how can you convince me of it?”
“By giving you a kiss, thus,” he exclaimed; and before any one could stop him, or prevent such unheard-of audacity, he sprang into the Empress’s lap, threw both arms around her neck, and kissed her tenderly and impulsively.
The Empress in her infinite goodness indulged the boy and laughed, perhaps more heartily than she had ever done before, at his childish boldness. The Emperor and the princes and princesses also laughed until the tears stood in their eyes, and the others, following the example of their superiors, dutifully simpered, though some of these stiff ladies and gentlemen nearly fainted away in their amazement at the temerity of this common lad. Such an occurrence had never before been known at the royal court in their recollection.