Monday, November 15:
R. has a cold, has to keep to his room and miss today's performance of Die Meistersinger. The book, La Renaissance, interests him. He receives Herr v. Bürkel, who makes a very good impression on him and who, among other things, tells him that he must not imagine that "beneath this fleshy bulk" there does not dwell a warm sympathy and understanding for his ideas.
But R. remains in poor spirits, and my reports on the very good Meistersinger performance do little to cheer him up.