for my undertaking. But in this respect the outlook was bad. The
sale of our modest household furniture, the proceeds of a benefit
concert, and my meagre savings only sufficed to satisfy the
importunate demands of my creditors in Magdeburg and Konigsberg.
I knew that if I were to devote all my cash to this purpose,
there would not be a farthing left. Some way out of the fix must
be found, and this our old Konigsberg friend, Abraham Moller,
suggested in his usual flippant and obscure manner. Just at this
critical moment he paid us a second visit to Riga. I acquainted
him with the difficulties of our position, and all the obstacles
which stood in the way of my resolve to go to Paris. In his
habitual laconical way he counselled me to reserve all my savings
for our journey, and to settle with my creditors when my Parisian
successes had provided the necessary means. To help us in
carrying out this plan, he offered to convey us in his carriage
across the Russian frontier at top speed to an East Prussian
port. We should have to cross the Russian frontier without
passports, as these had been already impounded by our foreign
creditors. He assured us that we should find it quite simple to
carry out this very hazardous expedition, and declared that he
had a friend on a Prussian estate close to the frontier who would
render us very effective assistance. My eagerness to escape at
any price from my previous circumstances, and to enter with all
possible speed upon the wider field, in which I hoped very soon
to realise my ambition, blinded me to all the unpleasantnesses
which the execution of his proposal must entail. Director
Hoffmann, who considered himself bound to serve me to the utmost
of his ability, facilitated my departure by allowing me to leave
some months before the expiration of my engagement. After
continuing to conduct the operatic portion of the Mitau