Once when I was alone, in search of some distraction I amused myself by foraging in the cupboards where I found some squares of chocolate. I broke off a square and munched it. I have said somewhere that I am greedy. I don't deny it. Here's another proof.

When evening came and I had to write the account of my day, I admit that I hesitated a moment about mentioning that delicious square of chocolate. But my conscience put to the test in this way conquered, and I bravely recorded my dereliction in the diary.

The thought that my mother would read about my misdeed made me rather shamefaced. She came in at that very moment and saw my confusion; but directly she knew the cause she clasped me in her arms and said:

"You have acted like an honest man and I forgive you. All the same that is no reason why you should ever again eat chocolate on the sly!"

Later on, when I munched other and better chocolate, I always obtained permission.

Thus it came about that from day to day I have always made notes of my recollections be they good or bad, gay or sad, happy or not, and kept them so that I might have them constantly in mind.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
FOREWORD[xii]
[I]My Admission to the Conservatoire[1]
[II]Youthful Years[11]
[III]The Grand Prix de Rome[20]
[IV]The Villa Medici[29]
[V]The Villa Medici (CONTINUED)[37]
[VI]The Villa Medici (CONTINUED)[43]
[VII]My Return To Paris[53]
[VIII] My Debut at the Theater[63]
[IX]The Days After the War[74]
[X]Joy and Sorrow[82]
[XI]My Debut at the Opéra[93]
[XII]The Theaters in Italy[103]
[XIII]The Conservatoire and the Institute[114]
[XIV]A First Performance at Brussels[123]
[XV]The Abbé Prevost at the Opéra-Comique[136]
[XVI]Five Collaborators[148]
[XVII]A Journey to Germany[161]
[XVIII]A Star[173]
[XIX]A New Life[186]
[XX]Milan—London—Bayreuth[199]
[XXI]A Visit To Verdi—Farewell To Ambroise Thomas[208]
[XXII]Work! Always Work![217]
[XXIII]In the Midst of the Middle Ages[231]
[XXIV]FROM Chérubin to Thérèse[242]
[XXV]Speaking of 1793[254]
[XXVI]FROM Ariane to Don Quichotte[267]
[XXVII]A Soirée[278]
[XXVIII]Dear Emotions[288]
[XXIX]Thoughts After Death[302]

ILLUSTRATIONS

The Master, Jules Massenet[Frontispiece]
PAGE
Massenet at Égreville[44]
One of the last portraits of Massenet[68]
Mme. Pauline Viardot[84]
Titta Ruffo, Caruso and Chaliapine[110]
The Forum from the First Act of Roma (See [page 300])[154]
Posthumia (Roma) (See [page 297])[170]
Lucy Arbell[212]
Persephone in Ariane[244]
Queen Amahelly (Bacchus)[268]
Dulcinée (Don Quichotte)[282]
Facsimile of Massenet's Reply to an Invitation to Visit America[296]