The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 911: Chapter 23: Heading to the Paris Concert Hall, please invite Sir Hastings to take action_3

”So you’re a habitual offender.”

”What do you mean by habitual offender? Whatever is beautiful is true, it doesn’t need to be certain, it doesn’t need to be reasonable. Arthur, I’m treating you so well today, don’t speak too harshly.”

Arthur noticed his agitation and, fearing he might bring up hemorrhoids again, had to appease him: ”Alright, Heinrich, there may be something I’m not aware of here. And if your article really has such a good promotional effect, 1,000 Francs isn’t too expensive.”

Upon hearing this, Heine immediately began to criticize Liszt: ”Arthur, that’s why I say even though you are both pianists, the breadth and vision you have are far superior to Liszt’s. Liszt is a petty person, unworthy of the adoration he receives from the Parisians. Not so many people actually like him; he buys his fans the way Benjamin buys votes when running for office. Liszt spends money to hire audiences to throw bouquets on stage and hire people to faint during his performances. He’s a kind of spiritual contagion, causing audiences to lose their minds.”

Heine, speaking passionately, added: ”Ever since Liszt freeloaded my article, I’ve been committed to exposing the filthy soul hidden beneath his elegant facade, yet no one believes me. His performances are nothing special; he’s only strong because of the influence of his appearance, which is astonishing! That a society can let someone like Liszt achieve fame shows it is truly ill.”

Arthur, hearing this, finally understood why Chopin was reluctant to mention Heine during his previous visit.

As a mutual friend of Liszt and Heine, the reserved Chopin was indeed caught in a difficult position between the two.

With Heine’s sharp and venomous literary style, once he decides to attack someone, all sorts of appalling words will be piled on relentlessly.

Let alone that Chopin lacks strong social skills—even if he had them, he wouldn’t be able to reconcile Heine and Liszt in face of Heine’s relentless hemorrhoid attacks.

Heine cursed Liszt for quite a while, and hardly satisfied, finally realized Arthur had been silent all along.

Heine looked at Arthur’s face, scrutinized him for a while, suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed: ”Arthur, I nearly forgot, you also became famous by adapting Paganini’s ’La Campanella’, right? Do you have any plans to hold a concert during this visit to Paris?”

”Hmm?” Arthur’s eyelid twitched: ”Heinrich, what’s your plan? If you want me to fend off thugs on the street, not even ten Liszts can match me. But when it comes to performance, Liszt can beat me with one hand.”

Heine stood up and circled around Arthur again and again, the more he looked, the more he thought Arthur could fiercely humiliate Liszt: ”Arthur, Liszt isn’t as formidable as you think, his fame in Paris is mainly due to his face rather than his performances. Chopin is the same, of course, I don’t mean to criticize Chopin; I’m just proving that not being handsome and only being able to play piano won’t make people madly ove you.

Liszt’s greatest contribution to piano is that he murdered it; his performances are all technique without showing any emotion. But you’re different, Arthur, my friend, you’re the true piano Master, with a handsome face, elegant charm, and the title of Sir, and I’ll write poetry to make you famous. Damn it! I should have thought earlier; you’ve come to Paris by fate, chosen to expose the false fame of the likes of Liszt.”