Monday, October 6:
Herr Zacharias maintains his silence, a repetition of our Loser experience, though with better manners. I pay some calls while R. works on his score.
In the afternoon he goes out, and returns home in a despondent mood; his foot hurts him, and the doctor seems unable to help. With regard to our undertaking, silence reigns everywhere again; the house is not progressing and is still causing us expense. On top of all that, he finds at home a letter from a music dealer in Königsberg, who claims to have heard that R. intends to give a series of concerts and who, experienced in this field, now offers his services. At a moment when the pain in his foot hardly allows R. any movement, a real mockery.
In the evening, read Uhland; what he has to say about Hamlet's gift, to smell out foul deeds, the result of bitter experience, makes me think of ourselves. We are almost in the same situation.
R. tells about an encounter with a boy who asked him for alms. R. refused, then behind his back heard how the boy let out a great sigh. Turning around, he asked him what was the matter. Reply: "How can I find a bit of bread to eat?" Seeing his clean clothing and well-soled feet, R. cried, "Where are you from?" whereupon the boy gave him a sharp look and, to R.'s utter amazement, ran off like a madman in spite of all R.'s friendly shouts.