that he had fully grasped my overture to the Meistersinger, and said the Grand Duchess Marie was affected because she had found this piece incomprehensible, but had expressed herself enraptured by the overture to Tristan, which he himself only managed to understand by the exertion of all his musical knowledge.  When I told Seroff of this, he exclaimed enthusiastically, ’Ah, that beast of a Count!  That woman knows what love is!’

The Count arranged a splendid dinner in my honour, at which both Anton Rubinstein and Mme. Abaza were present.  As I begged Rubinstein to play something after dinner, Mme. Abaza insisted on singing his Persian songs, which seemed greatly to annoy the composer, as he knew very well that he had produced much finer work.  Nevertheless both the composition and its execution gave me a very favourable opinion of the talents of both artists.  Through this singer, who had originally had a professional engagement in the Grand Duchess’s household, and was now married to a wealthy and cultured Russian gentleman of rank, I obtained an entry into the house of M. Abaza, who received me with great ceremony.  About the same time a certain Baron Vittinghof had also made himself known to me as an enthusiastic lover of music, and honoured me with an invitation to his house, where I met once more with Ingeborg Stark, the beautiful Swedish pianist and composer of sonatas, whom I had formerly known in Paris.  She amazed me by the impertinent outburst of laughter with which she accompanied the performance of one of the Baron’s compositions.  On the other hand, she assumed a more serious air when she informed me that she was engaged to Hans von Bronsart.

Rubinstein, with whom I exchanged friendly visits, behaved very creditably, although, as I had expected, he felt himself somewhat injured by me.  He told me that he was thinking of resigning his position in St. Petersburg, as it had been made difficult by Seroff’s antagonism.  It was also thought advisable to introduce me to the commercial circles of St. Petersburg, with a view to my coming benefit concert, and a visit was consequently arranged to a concert in the hall of the Merchants’ Guild.  Here I was met on the staircase by a drunken Russian, who announced himself as the conductor.  With a small selection of Imperial musicians and others, he conducted the overtures of Rossini’s Tell and Weber’s Oberon, in which the kettledrums were replaced by a small military drum, which produced a wonderful effect, especially in the lovely transfiguration part of the Oberon Overture.

Although I was admirably equipped for my own concerts as far as the orchestra was concerned, yet I had much trouble in procuring the requisite singers.  The soprano was very passably represented by Mlle. Bianchi; but for the tenor parts I had to make shift with a M. Setoff, who, although possessing plenty of courage, had very little voice.  But he managed to help me through the ‘Schmiede-Lieder’