Читать книгу Stradivarius - Donald P. Ladew - Страница 15

The lawyer, Morency, read the spidery scrawl of Pierre La Houssaye with difficulty: Last Will and Testament, August 10, 1818

I, Pierre La Houssaye, being of sound mind and failing body do separately bequeath the violin, Hercules, given into my hand in the year 1770 by Giuseppe Tartini, to Nicolò Paganini.

I have heard all that is bad of him and all that is good. As in my own case, I think the good out weighs the bad. I do not know when Monsieur Paganini will come to Paris, but I am assured that he will. They all do.

For some years now I have been going deaf. But for the fear of God, I would have taken my own life when I knew.

I am, as l’Avocat Morency knows, a pauper. My greatest fear is that he will use the Hercules to settle my bill for authentication of this document. It is difficult to place something this important at the mercy of God. I fear the whimsical nature of a supreme being who would permit my legacy to fall into the hands of Satan’s servants.

I have seen his manifestations and I am not comforted. God allowed the government of France to be formed. I have seen their greatest creation, the guillotine. And Napoleon! How can a Christian accept such evil. Were I a saint, which I hasten to add, I am not, I would cry out, enough!

Now, I must place that which I value above all things, in the hands of fate. The Hercules is the greatest instrument I have ever heard or played. It must not be possessed by one unworthy, by one unable to match the beauty of its creation.

In despair I pray that my dying wishes be carried out.

Pierre La Houssaye

Morency rattled the paper angrily. “Arrogant swine. Rest assured, Monsieur La Houssaye, I will do the right thing.”

Morency called to his assistant. “Bertran, who is the leading dealer in musical instruments in Paris?”