BUT IT IS ALWAYS SO. Let him put me to the test. He may assemble
all the composers in Munich, and also send in quest of some from
Italy and France, Germany, and England and Spain, and I will
undertake to write against them all." I related to him all that
had occurred to me in Italy, and begged him, if the conversation
turned on me, to bring in these things. He said, "I have very
little influence, but the little that is in my power I will do
with pleasure." He is also decidedly of opinion that if I could
only remain here, the affair would come right of itself. It would
not be impossible for me to contrive to live, were I alone here,
for I should get at least 300 florins from Count Seeau. My board
would cost little, for I should be often invited out; and even
were it not so, Albert would always be charmed to see me at
dinner in his house. I eat little, drink water, and for dessert
take only a little fruit and a small glass of wine. Subject to
the advice of my kind friends, I would make the following
contract with Count Seeau:--I would engage to produce every year
four German operas, partly buffe and partly serie; from each of
these I should claim the profits of one performance, for such is
the custom here. This alone would bring me in 500 florins, which
along with my salary would make up 800 florins, but in all
probability more; for Reiner, an actor and singer, cleared 200
florins by his benefit, and I am VERY MUCH BELOVED HERE, and how
much more so should I be if I contributed to the elevation of
the national theatre of Germany in music! And this would
certainly be the case with me, for I was inspired with the most
eager desire to write when I heard the German operettas. The name
of the first singer here is Keiserin; her father is cook to a
count here; she is a very pleasing girl, and pretty on the stage;
I have not yet seen her near. She is a native of this place. When