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Sand was
a spendthrift and Chopin had often to put his hands in his pocket
for her. He charged twenty francs a lesson, but was not a machine
and for at least four months of the year he earned nothing. Hence
his anxiety to get all he could for his compositions. Heaven-born
geniuses are sometimes very keen in financial transactions, and
indeed why should they not be?
In 1839 Chopin met Moscheles. They appeared together at St.
Cloud, playing for the royal family. Chopin received a gold cup,
Moscheles a travelling case. "The King gave him this," said the
amiable Frederic, "to get the sooner rid of him." There were two
public concerts in 1841 and 1842, the first on April 26 at
Pleyel's rooms, the second on February 20 at the same hall.
Niecks devotes an engrossing chapter to the public accounts and
the general style of Chopin's playing; of this more hereafter.
From 1843 to 1847 Chopin taught, and spent the vacations at
Nohant, to which charming retreat Liszt, Matthew Arnold,
Delacroix, Charles Rollinat and many others came. His life was
apparently happy.


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