The Elves; With Other Tales & Sketches (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ...Hoditz consulted tba baron concerning the opinions of the little musician, to which he was perfectly capable of giving the preference. From that moment the count occupied himself entirely with Consuelo, though he still did not appear o suspect her real age r sex. He only asked, where fie had been educated, to understand so well the rules of Parnassus. "At the free school of the Venetian chapters." "It seems to me that they carry their schoolings farther there than they do in Germany. And where was your comrade instructed " ' In the cathedral at Vienna," said Joseph. "My children," said the count, " I think that you both possess intelligence and aptitude in a high degree. At our first halting stage, I wil examine you in music, and if you come up to the promise given by your countenances and manners, 1 engage you for my orchestra, or my theatre ol Roswald. I will actually present you to the princess, my wife. Aha what say you to that: it will be a veritable fortune ready made for two lads like you." Consuelo was taken with a great desire to laugh at the idea of the count undertaking to exa mine herself and Haydn in music. And it was only by dint of a great effort that she could gtiflt her entertainment by affecting to bow most res pectfully. Joseph perceiving the advantageoui consequences to himself of his second propo sal, thanked him and did not refuse. The count resumed his tablets and read to Consuelo half ol a singularly hideous Italian operetta, full of bar barisms, which he proposed to set to music him self, and to have performed on his wife's birthdnj by his own actors, in his own theatre, in his own castle, or to speak more correctly, in his own royal residence; for considering...