But even the story of her visit is denied.  Turgeniev said that fifty countesses had claimed that he died in their arms.  Among the number was the Countess Potocka, who is cherished traditionally as one of Chopin’s loves, and who was much with him during his last days, and sang for him, at his request, as he lay dying.  Poor genius! he must even have a woman sing his swan-song for him!  Potocka is best known by a familiar portrait that you will find in a thousand homes.  But how the higher criticism undermines the gospel of tradition!  The truth is that Chopin denied ever having been in love with her or she with him, and Huneker even claims that the famous portrait of her is not of her at all.

But however attended, visited, caressed, Chopin died at the threshold of his prime, his life, lighted at most with a little feverish twinkling of stars, one nocturne.

END OF VOLUME I.