“Could I refuse? One ought to help relations out of difficulties! “Perrin also wishes me to superintend the rehearsals of _Alcestis_, but he dawdles so, waiting for Society to come back to Paris (as if there were Society for _Alcestis_!), that I am going to leave him stranded and start for Geneva. “Ah! dear lady, how glorious it is! how grand! The other day at rehearsal we all wept like stags at bay. “‘What a man Gluck was!’ cried Perrin. “‘No,’ said I, ‘_we_ are the men. Don’t get confused.’ “Taylor said yesterday that Gluck had more heart than Homer; truly, he is more thoroughly human. “And we are going to offer this food for the gods to pure idiots! “Is Massart shooting, fishing, painting, building, dreaming? “He has covered himself with glory. His pupils have carried off all the prizes this year; he can wallow in laurels, though he certainly might find a more comfortable bed! “Here ends my scribble; I press your learned hand.” _To_ HUMBERT FERRAND. “_10th November 1866._--Dear Humbert,--I ought to be in Vienna, but the concert is put off. I suppose that _Faust_ was not learnt to their satisfaction, and they only wish me to hear it when it is nearly ready. “It will be a real joy to listen to it again; I have not heard the whole of it since it was performed twelve years ago in Dresden. “The _Alcestis_ rehearsals have done me good; never did it appear so grand, and surely never before was it so finely rendered. “A whole new generation has arisen to worship. “The other day a lady near me sobbed so violently that every one around noticed her, and I got crowds of letters thanking me for my devoted care for Gluck. “Ingres is not the only one of our Institute colleagues who comes constantly; most of the painters and sculptors love the beautiful Antique, of which the very sorrow is not disfiguring. “I am sending you the pocket-score; you will easily read it and I am sure will enjoy it.” _To_ M. ERNEST REYER. “VIENNA, _17th December 1866_.--Dear Reyer,--I only got up at four to-day, as yesterday over-did me. “It would be foolish of me to describe the recalls, encores, tears, and flowers I received after the performance of _Faust_ in the _Salle de la Redoute_; I had a chorus of three hundred, an orchestra of a hundred and fifty, and splendid soloists. “This evening there is to be a grand fête; three hundred artists and amateurs--among them the hundred and fifty lady-amateurs who, with their sweet fresh voices, sang my choruses. “How well, too, they had been trained by Herbeck, who first thought of giving my work in its entirety, and who would let himself be chopped in pieces for me. “To-morrow I am invited by the Conservatoire to hear Helmesberger conduct my _Harold_.