Just before dinner a quaint sort of letter was placed in my hands. It was from some one in the famous pianist's entourage, reminding me that M. Paderewski was very fatigued after his heavy work in the provinces, and begging that I would under no circumstances ask him to play that evening. I was half amused, half annoyed by this unexpected communication, which, of course, I knew better than to regard as inspired by my guest of honor himself. It was also entirely superfluous, as I always made it a strict rule never to request an artist to perform in my house who did not come there for that purpose or with that expressed intention. However, I thought no more about it until after dinner, when I took an opportunity to inform Paderewski, in a whispered “aside”, of the strange warning I had received. I assured him seriously that I had not had the slightest idea of asking him to play, and that my friends were more than satisfied to have the pleasure of meeting him and enjoying his society. He replied : “Do you imagine I think otherwise? This is a case of 'Save me from my friends!' That I am tired is perfectly true. But when I am in the mood to play fatigue counts for nothing. And I am in that mood to-night. Are you really going to have some music?" ''Yes, Piatti has brought his 'cello, and he is going to take part in the Rubinstein sonata in D." "Then I should like to play it with him; and more beside, if he will permit me. Piatti and I are now old colleagues at the “Pops,” and we always get on splendidly together." What could I say?— save express my gratitude, and apprise my friends of the treat that was in store. It was the more welcome because it was virtually unexpected. An unalloyed delight was the performance of that lovely sonata by the “Prince of 'Cellists” and the greatest of living pianists. Both seemed to revel in the beauties of a work admirably designed for the display of their respective instruments, and the rendering was in every way perfect. After it was over, dear old Piatti, who rarely talked much, said to me in his quiet way, “I quite enjoyed that. I have played the sonata with Rubinstein many times, but it never went better than to-night.'' Later on he played again; and so did Paderewski— with Sullivan close by his side, watching with fascinated eyes the nimble fingers as they glided over the keys. That evening the illustrious pianist was inspired.
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