two in a cycle. I
have not slept the whole night. The main motif is glorious." He began to
hum it over in a falsetto voice: "'Oh, mortal man, if genius does not
forsake thee, neither rain nor storm can breathe upon thy heart!' How do
you like that?"

Gertrude looked at him inspired.

"I should have a good drink on that idea," he continued; "I have rarely
felt such a longing for a flask of old wine. It's a bloody shame that I
can't afford it. But you wait till I get a little money, and you will
see a _bouteille_ of Tokay on my table every day."

"My God, just listen how he raves! He's going to have the best there
is," said Philippina angrily, as she entered the room in her stocking
feet and heard Daniel's remarks.

Daniel told her to keep her mouth shut and leave the room at once. He
paid no attention to her reply, and cried out: "Something has got to
happen. If I can't drink, I at least want to dance. Dance with me,
Eleanore; don't be afraid, come, dance with me!" He threw his arms
around her, pressed her to his bosom, sang a waltz melody, and drew the
struggling and embarrassed girl across the floor.

Philippina broke out in her slimy, malicious laughter, and then shrieked
at the top of her voice that Frau Kirschner was outside and wanted to
see the Kapellmeister's wife. Gertrude made an imploring gesture, the
full meaning of which Daniel easily grasped. The baby began to cry,
Eleanore tore herself away from Daniel's embrace, arranged her hair, and
hastened over to the cradle. Philippina opened the door to let the
Councillor's wife in. Just then a violent discussion was started in the
hall. One could hear the voice of Jordan and that of some strange man.

It was the furniture dealer who had come to collect the money for the
cradle. He was boiling with the rage that cares not how it may be
expressed: he said he had already been there four times, and each time
he was put off. The truth is, Daniel was very hard up.

The Councillor's wife took Daniel to one side, and made him an offer of
a loan of two hundred marks. Daniel was silent; he bit his lips, and
looked down at the floor. She scolded him: "You are always your own
worst enemy. Now be reasonable, Nothafft, I will send the money over at
noon. If you have any left, you may pay it back."

Daniel went out, and gave the blustering furniture dealer his last
ten-mark piece.

Frau Kirschner had brought a flask of Tokay wine with her for Gertrude.
Tokay was regar