on the ear.”  Mara’s tone was now, however, entirely lowered; he begged to be forgiven, and excused himself as he best could.  The most shameful part of the affair was that Mara (a miserable violoncellist, all here declare) would never have been heard at court at all but for Cannabich, who had taken considerable trouble about it.  At the first concert before my arrival he played a concerto, and accompanied his wife, taking Danzi’s place without saying a word either to Danzi or any one else, which was allowed to pass.  The Elector was by no means satisfied with his mode of accompanying, and said he preferred his own people.  Cannabich, knowing this, mentioned to Count Seeau, before the concert began, that he had no objection to Mara’s playing, but that Danzi must also play.  When Mara came he was told this, and yet he was guilty of this insolence.  If you knew these people, you would at once see pride, arrogance, and unblushing effrontery written on their faces.

My sister is now, I hope, quite recovered.  Pray do not write me any more melancholy letters, for I require at this time a cheerful spirit, a clear head, and inclination to work, and these no one can have who is sad at heart.  I know, and, believe me, deeply feel, how much you deserve rest and peace, but am I the obstacle to this?  I would not willingly be so, and yet, alas!  I fear I am.  But if I attain my object, so that I can live respectably here, you must instantly leave Salzburg.  You will say, that may never come to pass; at all events, industry and exertion shall not be wanting on my part.  Do try to come over soon to see me.  We can all live together.  I have a roomy alcove on my first room in which two beds stand.  These would do capitally for you and me.  As for my sister, all we can do is to put a stove into the next room, which will only be an affair of four or five florins; for in mine we might heat the stove till it is red-hot, and leave the stove-door open into the bargain, yet it would not make the room endurable—­it is so frightfully cold in it.  Ask the Abbate Varesco if we could not break off at the chorus in the second act, “Placido e il mare” after Elettra’s first verse, when the chorus is repeated,—­at all events after the second, for it is really far too long.  I have been confined to the house two days from my cold, and, luckily for me, I have very little appetite, for in the long run it would be inconvenient to pay for my board.  I have, however, written a note to the Count on the subject, and received a message from him that he would speak to me about it shortly.  By heavens! he ought to be thoroughly ashamed of himself.  I won’t pay a single kreutzer.

131.

Munich, Dec. 1, 1780.