Wednesday, August 19:
R. is unfortunately not well; he cannot stand this constant disturbance. At lunch, to which we had invited Herr Niemann, he felt so indisposed that he had to leave the table. I walk up to the theater with our singer and the children. In the evening R. feels somewhat recovered. Frl. Brandt takes her leave, and our tenor cheers R. up by telling him some Berlin jokes.
Thursday, August 20:
R. is very much indisposed and has to remain in bed until noon. Herr Niemann goes hunting. In the afternoon Herr Voltz, whom R. has to take severely to task, for he has had the impertinence to demand a Prussian decoration for a possible consent to do Tristan und Isolde! Also, they (Batz and Voltz) have made certain deductions to which they are not entitled. After him Herr Schmeitzner, the publisher of the future, to whom R. suggests the purchase of Fritzsch’s business, he being in great difficulties and having shown himself to be a very poor businessman. Then Herr Niemann, and in the evening Baron Hofmann from Vienna, a man of importance who tells us many things about the people there and declares that this winter it should be possible to do something for Bayreuth. Went to bed early. Hans has answered Lusch, very sad and indisposed!...