“My father devised a charming cure for my malady; he said I ought to marry and forthwith unearthed a rich damsel, informing me that, since he could leave me but little, it was my duty to marry money. “At first I laughed, but finding that he was in sober earnest, I was obliged to say firmly that, since I could not love the lady in question, I would not sell myself at any price. “That ended the discussion, but it upset me terribly, for I thought my father knew me better. “Madame, do you not think I am right? “As I promised Monsieur Horace, I will go to Paris at the end of the year to fire my musical broadside, after which I intend to start at once for Berlin. “But indeed, Madame, I am taking unmerciful advantage of your kindness and will conclude by asking your pardon for my garrulity. _To_ FERDINAND HILLER. “LA CÔTE ST ANDRÉ, _August 1832_.--What a dainty, elusive, piquant, teasing, witty creature is this Hiller! Were we both women, I should detest her; were she, alone, a woman I should simply hate her, for I loathe coquettes. As it is--‘Providence having ordered all for the best’ as the good say--we are luckily both masculine. “No, my dear fellow, you, being you, naturally ‘could not do otherwise’ than make me wait two months for your letter; naturally, also, I ‘could not do otherwise’ than be angry with you therefor. However, as I was not wounded to the quick by your neglect, I wrote you a second letter which I burnt, remembering Napoleon’s wise saying, ‘Certain things should never be said.’ If so, still less should they be written. “Come now! Since you are learning Latin I will turn schoolmaster. “There are mistakes in your letter. “No. 1. No accent on _negre_. “No. 2. DE _grands amusements_, not _des_. “No. 3. _Il est possible que Mendelssohn_ L’AIT, not _l’aura_. “Take thou good heed unto my lesson. Ouf! “I am in the bosom of my family, by whom (particularly by my younger sister) I allow myself to be adored in an edifying manner. But oh! I long for liberty and love and money! They will come some day and perhaps also one little luxury--one of those superfluities that are necessities to certain temperaments--_revenge_, public and private. One only lives and dies once. “I spend my time in copying my _Mélologue_; I have been two months at it hard and have still sixty-two days’ work. Am I not persevering? I am ill for want of music, positively paralysed; then I still suffer from that choleraic trouble that sometimes keeps me in bed. However, I am up to-day, getting ready for the next attack. “I am going to see Ferrand; we have not met for five years. You see extremes meet. He is more religious than ever and has married a woman who adores him and whom he adores. XXI MARRIAGE