Among the conveniences of this hotel our friend had the pleasant surprise of finding a good grand piano.

He played on it every day, and was rewarded for his pains not only by the pleasure it gave him, but also by the admiration of the landlord.

Through his travelling companion's friend and teacher, M.H.K.Lichtenstein, professor of zoology and director of the Zoological Museum, who was a member of the Singakademie and on good terms with Zelter, the conductor of that society, he hoped to be made acquainted with the most distinguished musicians of the Prussian capital, and looked to Prince Radziwill for an introduction to the musical autocrat Spontini, with whom Lichtenstein was not on a friendly footing.

In these hopes, however, Chopin was disappointed, and had to content himself with looking at the stars from afar.

Speaking of a performance of the Singakademie at which he was present, he says:-- Spontini, Zelter, and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy were also there; but I spoke to none of these gentlemen, as I did not think it becoming to introduce myself.
It is not difficult to discover the circumstances that in this respect caused matters to turn out so little in accordance with the young man's wishes.