a genuinely agreeable man, who, having often heard my music in Germany, had become inspired by a sympathetic interest in my person.  He frankly expressed a desire that I should commit the management of my financial business entirely to his hands, which meant, in fact, nothing less than that he would permanently hold himself responsible for any needful subsidies, in return for which I was to assign to him all the eventual proceeds of my Paris undertakings.  This offer was distinctly novel, and moreover exactly fell in with the needs of my peculiar situation.  And, in fact, so far as my subsequent financial security was concerned, I had no further difficulties to encounter until my position in Paris was fully decided.  And although my later intercourse with M. Erlanger was accompanied by many circumstances which no man’s kindly courtesy could have relieved, yet I ever found in him a truly devoted friend, who earnestly studied both my own personal welfare and the success of my enterprises.

This eminently satisfactory turn of events was calculated to inspire me with high courage had the circumstances been somewhat different.  As it was, it had no power to excite in me even the slightest enthusiasm for an undertaking of which the hollowness and unsuitability for me personally were clearly revealed every time I approached it.  It was with a feeling of ill-humour that I met every demand made by this venture, and yet it represented the foundation of the confidence reposed in me.  My mind was subjected, however, to a certain refreshing uncertainty as to the character of my scheme by a new acquaintance who was introduced to me in connection with it.  M. Royer informed me that he could not ‘pass’ the translation which I had taken infinite pains to conjure into existence through the two men who had volunteered to help me.  He most earnestly recommended a thorough revision by M. Charles Truinet, whose pseudonym was Nuitter.  This man was still young and extraordinarily attractive, with something friendly and open in his manner.  He had called on me a few months ago to offer his co-operation in the translation, of my operas, on the introduction of Ollivier, his colleague at the Paris bar.  Proud of my connection with Lindau, however, I had refused his help; but the time had now come when, in consequence of M. Royer’s strictures, Truinet’s renewed offer of his services had to be taken into consideration.  He understood no German, but maintained that as far as this was concerned he could place sufficient reliance upon his old father, who had travelled for a long time in Germany and had acquired the essentials of our language.  As a matter of fact, there was no need for special knowledge in this respect, as the sole problem seemed to be to make the French verses less stiff and stilted which poor Roche had constructed under the shameful control of Lindau, who used to make out that he knew everything better than any one else.  The inexhaustible patience