He collaborated in several ballets for the Opera and that gave him a good deal of work to do.

It sounds incredible, but he used to bring his "work" to class and scribble away on his orchestration while his pupils played the organ.

This did not prevent his listening and looking after them.

He would leave his work and make appropriate comments as though he had no other thought.
In addition to his ballets, Benoist did other little odd jobs for the Opera.

As a result one day, without thinking, he gave me the key to a deep secret.