Monday, December 3:
At last some sunshine! R. slept well and works; we lunch alone together upstairs, since I am not able to move about much and he does not like eating without me. In the afternoon he goes with Fidi to see friend Feustel and discuss his general and personal deficit position; they agree to ask the King for 10% of the proceeds from the Ring to pay off the deficit.
In the evening R. sends for Fidi's teacher in order to discuss with him the boy's education, but his horizon does not extend beyond the limits of the teachers' training college. Afterward, as we are discussing the boy's education between ourselves, R. says, “God, to send a boy out into such an evil world! And it is growing steadily worse; what should we bring him up to be? Maybe an African explorer!” At which we laugh heartily.