Tell
Benda to make no difficulties, for it is my express wish to hear the
music to-morrow morning. I trust to you, marquis, to see my wish
fulfilled, to make the impossible possible, if you find it
necessary. Call me capricious if you will, for desiring to hear this
music to-morrow. I have so long been controlled by stern realities,
that I will allow myself now to yield to a caprice."
He gave his hand to the marquis, who pressed it to his lips.
"Sire, to-morrow morning at nine o'clock the Te Deum shall be
performed in the chapel, should I even be compelled to pass the
night in arousing the musicians from their beds."
The marquis kept his word; he surmounted all difficulties, removed
all objections. In vain Benda declared the organ in the chapel was
out of tune, the performance impossible; the marquis hastened to the
organist and obliged him to put it in order that night. In vain the
singers protested against singing this difficult music before the
king without preparation; D'Argens commanded them in the name of the
king to have a rehearsal during the night. Thanks to his nervous
energy and zeal, the singers assembled, and Benda stood before his
desk to direct this midnight concert.
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