“I hesitated, but finally did as he wished, and then, will you believe that I missed the chance of a charming compliment? I wrote: ‘To Dr Clarus.’
“‘Oh,’ said he, ‘you have added an l to my name.’
“I thought:
“‘Patientibus Carus, sed inter doctes Clarus,’ and had not the sense to say it!
“There are times when I am really quite idiotic.
“Now for your questions. You ask me to tell you—
“Is there a rival to Madame Schumann as a pianist? I believe not.
“Is the musical tendency of Leipzig sound? I will not.
“Is it true that the confession of faith here is ‘there is no God but Bach, and Mendelssohn is his prophet?’ I ought not.
“If the public is at fault in being contented with Lortzing’s little operas? I cannot.