I shivered as I asked him what had happened.
"It is the Archduke," he stammered, "who has forbidden the performance."
There was something like a sob in his voice.
"The Archduke? His own work? Why?"
"I don't know myself."
After a few steps made in a painful silence, he added:
"We had a little difference yesterday, at the dress rehearsal, but nothing of importance."
"What was it?"
"He wanted to cancel the dance of the precious stones, saying that it was like a kindergarten that had gone mad."