nt it is, and how full of sorrow. I
mused upon the wickedness of the world and of everybody in it, and the
general cussedness of all things.

I thought how foolish it was for B. and myself to be wasting our time,
gadding about Europe in this silly way. What earthly enjoyment was there
in travelling--being jolted about in stuffy trains, and overcharged at
uncomfortable hotels?

B. was cheerful and frivolously inclined at the beginning of our walk (we
were strolling down the Maximilian Strasse, after dinner); but as I
talked to him, I was glad to notice that he gradually grew more serious
and subdued. He is not really bad, you know, only thoughtless.

B. bought some cigars and offered me one. I did not want to smoke.
Smoking seemed to me, just then, a foolish waste of time and money. As I
said to B.:

"In a few more years, perhaps before this very month is gone, we shall be
lying in the silent tomb, with the worms feeding on us. Of what
advantage will it be to us then that we smoked these cigars to-day?"

B. said:

"Well, the advantage it will be to me now is, that if you have a cigar in
your mouth I shan't get quite so much of your chatty conversation. Take
one, for my sake."

To humour him, I lit up.

I do not admire the German cigar. B. says that when you consider they
only cost a penny, you cannot grumble. But what I say is, that when you
consider they are dear at six a half-penny, you can grumble. Well
boiled, they might serve for greens; but as smoking material they are not
worth the match with which you light them, especially not if the match be
a German one. The German match is quite a high art work. It has a
yellow head and a magenta or green stem, and can certainly lay claim to
being the handsomest match in Europe.

We smoked a good many penny cigars during our stay in Germany, and that
we were none the worse for doing so I consider as proof of our splendid
physique and constitution. I think the German cigar test might, with
reason, be adopted by life insurance offices.--Question: "Are you at
present, and have you always been, of robust health?" Answer: "I have
smoked a German cigar, and still live." Life accepted.

Towards three o'clock we worked our way round to the station, and began
looking for our train. We hunted all over the place, but could not find
it anywhere. The central station at Munich is an enormous building, and
a perfect maze of passages and halls and corridors. It