"Free as the wind," assented the count easily. The note of patronage was gone.
A big sunny smile broke over the musician's face. It radiated from the spectacles and broadened the wide mouth.
"Ach! We shall do great things!" he announced proudly.
"Great things," assented the count. "And 'Der Erlkönig'—I must have 'Der Erlkönig.' Bring it with you."
"'Der Erlkönig' shall be yours," said Schubert grandly. There was the air of granting a royal favor in the round, green-and-white little figure as it bowed itself from the room.
In the hall he stumbled a little, looking uncertainly about. A small figure glided from a curtained window and approached him timidly.
"Your hat is on the next landing, Herr Schubert," she said.
He looked down at her. His big face flushed with pleasure. "You like my music," he said bluntly.
She shook her head gravely.
"It is terrible," she replied.