Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

I70 MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
inaudible outside the room, while the second made
the instrument a complete dummy.
To return, however, to my narrative. When
Henselt had, after dinner, gone up to his sanctum,
his wife retired to her sleeping-room for a short
siesta; and I sat in the drawing-room and occupied
myself in taking in all around me, and looking out
into the beautiful flower-garden. It seems to me, as
well as I can remember, that his Excellency had a
whist-party that afternoon, for coffee was sent up to
him and his friends, while Prau von Henselt and her
housekeeper were chatting with me in the drawing-
room.
About five o'clock I left the Villa von Henselt, and
went home to my simple rooms in the hotel. Much
did I speculate that evening as to when Henselt
would send for me to play to him, and what kind of
help he was likely to give me.
On Monday morning I half expected to have a
message from him, but the day passed on and still I
heard nothing. In the evening, about six o'clock, I
was in the middle of practising Scharwencka's fine
variations in D minor, when there came a tap at the
door, and when I rose and opened it, who should be
there but Herr and Prau von Henselt !
As
they were
coming into the room he glanced towards the piano,
and said bluntly and without any preamble, ' Where
is your music ? I want to see all you have brought
down with you.' I hastened to lay it all on the table