of Miss Stirling.  She cut the Gordian knot by sending her master 25,000 francs. [Footnote:  M. Charles Gavard says 20,000 francs.] This noble gift, however; did not at once reach the hands of Chopin.  When Franchomme, who knew what had been done, visited Chopin a few days afterwards, the invalid lamented as on previous occasions his impecuniosity, and in answer to the questions of his astonished friend stated that he had received nothing.  The enquiries which were forthwith set on foot led to the envelope with the precious enclosure being found untouched in the clock of the portiere, who intentionally or unintentionally had omitted to deliver it.  The story is told in various ways, the above is the skeleton of apparently solid facts.  I will now make the reader acquainted with the hitherto unpublished account of Madame Rubio, who declared solemnly that her version was correct in every detail.  Franchomme’s version, as given in Madame Audley’s book on Chopin, differs in several points from that of Madame Rubio; I shall, therefore, reproduce it for comparison in a foot-note.

One day in 1849 Franchomme came to Madame Rubio, and said that something must be done to get money for Chopin.  Madame Rubio thereupon went to Miss Stirling to acquaint her with the state of matters.  When Miss Stirling heard of Chopin’s want of money, she was amazed, and told her visitor that some time before she had, without the knowledge of anyone, sent Chopin 25,000 francs in a packet which, in order to conceal the sender, she got addressed and sealed in a shop.  The ladies made enquiries as to the whereabouts of the money, but without result.  A Scotch gentleman, a novelist (Madame Rubio had forgotten the name at the time she told the story, but was sure she would recall it, and no doubt would have done so, had not her sudden death soon after [footnote:  In the summer of 1880] intervened), proposed to consult the clairvoyant Alexandre. [Footnote:  Madame Rubio always called the clairvoyant thus.  See another name farther on.] The latter on being applied to told them that the packet along with a letter had been delivered to the portiere who had it then in her possession, but that he could not say more until he got some of her hair.  One evening when the portiere was bathing Chopin’s feet, he—­who had in the meantime been communicated with—­talked to her about her hair and asked her to let him cut off one lock.  She allowed him to do so, and thus Alexandre was enabled to say that the money was in the clock in the portiere’s room.  Having got this information, they went to the woman and asked her for the packet.  She turned pale, and, drawing it out of the clock, said that at the time she forgot to give it to Chopin, and when she remembered it afterwards was afraid to do so.  The packet of notes was unopened.  Madame Rubio supposed that the portiere thought Chopin would soon die and that then she might keep the contents of the parcel.