The following letter addressed to Hiller, written by Chopin and Liszt, and signed by them and Franchomme, brings together Chopin’s most intimate artist friends, and spreads out before us a vivid picture of their good fellowship and the society in which they moved.  I have put the portions written by Liszt within brackets [within parentheses in this e-text].  Thus the reader will see what belongs to each of the two writers, and how they took the pen out of each other’s hand in the middle of a phrase and even of a word.  With regard to this letter I have further to remark that Hiller, who was again in Germany, had lately lost his father:—­

{This is at least the twentieth time that we have made arrangements to meet, sometimes at my house, sometimes here, [Footnote:  At Chopin’s lodgings mentioned farther on.] with the intention of writing to you, and some visit, or other unexpected hindrance, has always prevented us from doing so!...I don’t know whether Chopin will be able to make any excuses to you; as regards myself it seems to me that we have been so excessively rude and impertinent that excuses are no longer either admissible or possible.

   We have sympathised deeply with you in your sorrow, and
   longed to be with you in order to alleviate as much as
   possible the pangs of your heart.}

He has expressed himself so well that I have nothing to add in excuse of my negligence or idleness, influenza or distraction, or, or, or—­you know I explain myself better in person; and when I escort you home to your mother’s house this autumn, late at night along the boulevards, I shall try to obtain your pardon.  I write to you without knowing what my pen is scribbling, because Liszt is at this moment playing my studies and transports me out of my proper senses.  I should like to rob him of his way of rendering my own studies.  As to your friends who are in Paris, I have seen the Leo family and their set [Footnote:  Chopin’s words are et qui s’en suit.’  He refers, no doubt, to the Valentin family, relations of the Leos, who lived in the same house with them.] frequently this winter and spring.  There have been some soirees at the houses of certain ambassadresses, and there was not one in which mention was not made of some one who is at Frankfort.  Madame Eichthal sends you a thousand compliments.  The whole Plater family were much grieved at your departure, and asked me to express to you their sympathy. (Madame d’Appony has quite a grudge against me for not having taken you to her house before your departure; she hopes that when you return you will remember the promise you made me.  I may say as much from a certain lady who is not an ambassadress. [Footnote:  This certain lady was the Countess d’Agoult.]

Do you know Chopin’s wonderful studies?) They are admirable—­ and yet they will only last till the moment yours appear (a little bit of authorial modesty!!!).  A little