His elocution was less sweet than sonorous,
and, therefore, better adapted than the mellifluences of his friend
to the outrageous vehemence of this drama.
What could detain him? Perhaps he lingered through forgetfulness.
Yet this was incredible. Never had his memory been known to fail
upon even more trivial occasions. Not less impossible was it that
the scheme had lost its attractions, and that he stayed because his
coming would afford him no gratification. But why should we expect
him to adhere to the minute?
A half-hour elapsed, but Pleyel was still at a distance. Perhaps
he had misunderstood the hour which had been proposed. Perhaps he
had conceived that to-morrow, and not to-day, had been selected for
this purpose; but no. A review of preceding circumstances
demonstrated that such misapprehension was impossible; for he had
himself proposed this day, and this hour. This day his attention
would not otherwise be occupied; but to-morrow an indispensable
engagement was foreseen, by which all his time would be engrossed;
his detention, therefore, must be owing to some unforeseen and
extraordinary event.
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