Wednesday, November 3:
R. slept well. In Berlin Herr v. Hülsen is inquiring about the Nibelungen, having heard that Herr Neumann is to stage it at the Viktoria Theater. R. sends a telegram to Tappert, saying he does not intend to release any of his works to the Berlin theater.
Around noon we visit Lenbach; R. sits for him but says in the course of it that he is tired and would like best to close his eyes. Herr v. Bürkel visits R. Reports concerning the King arouse melancholy; among other things, the K. does not travel around, because he fears for his life, assassinations.
A very nice evening at Levi's with Wilhelm Busch, Lenbach, and Gedon. Much joking with the latter. Laughing admiration for Levi's arrangements and conducting fortunes; Lenbach laughs heartily when R. says, in connection with the singers in Venice, that his miserliness was always in conflict with the pleasure they gave him.
But his remarks about the Renaissance, and about the fine arts in general, offend L. However, R. abandons the subject, and goes on to the Indians, citing Manin, who said that at death a human being is deserted by everything except justice. R. continues reading Jacolliot's book.