On the previous day the decision in the case of “Schebalsky _v._ Rubinstein” had been made public, and the Director of the Conservatoire had been ordered to pay 25 roubles, damages for the summary and wrongful dismissal of this female student. Rubinstein refused to pay, and gave notice of appeal, but the master’s admirers immediately collected the small sum, in order to spare him the few hours’ detention which his refusal involved. This event gave rise to a noisy demonstration when he appeared in public. Kashkin says:-- “From the moment Nicholas Rubinstein came on the platform, until the end of the concert, he was made the subject of an extraordinary ovation. No one thought of the concert or the music, and I felt indignant that the first performance of _Romeo and Juliet_ should have taken place under such conditions.” So it came about that the long-desired evening, which he hoped would bring him a great success, brought only another disillusionment for Tchaikovsky. The composer’s melancholy became a shade darker. “I just idle away the time cruelly,” he writes, “and my opera, _The Oprichnik_, has come to a standstill at the first chorus.” _To Modeste Tchaikovsky._ “_March_ 25_th_ (_April_ 6_th_). “I congratulate you on leaving school. Looking back over the years that have passed since I left the School of Jurisprudence, I observe with some satisfaction that the time has not been lost. I wish the same for you....” _To Anatol Tchaikovsky._ “_April_ 23_rd_ (May 5_th_). “Rioumin[21] wants to convert me at any price. He has given me a number of religious books, and I have promised to read them all. In any case, I now walk in ways of godliness. In Passion week I fasted with Rubinstein. “About the middle of May I shall probably go abroad. I am partly pleased at the prospect and partly sorry, because I shall not see you.” _To I. A. Klimenko._ “_May_ 1_st_ (13_th_), 1870.