d where
they are just beginning to build him a tomb. As you stand there
consider the life of that man, and if you are not pacified then, there
is no help for you, I should say."

"Good, good! But the year is long and every single day--and then the
evening."

"That is always the easiest part of the day to know what to do with.
Then we have _Sardanapal_, or _Coppelia_, with Del Era, and when that
is out we have Siechen's, which is not to be despised. Three steins
will calm you every time. There are always many, a great many others,
who are in exactly the same general situation as we are, and one of
them who had had a great deal of misfortune once said to me: 'Believe
me, Wuellersdorf, we cannot get along without "false work."' The man
who said it was an architect and must have known about it. His
statement is correct. Never a day passes but I am reminded of the
'false work.'"

After Wuellersdorf had thus expressed himself he took his hat and cane.
During these words Innstetten may have recalled his own earlier
remarks about little happiness, for he nodded his head half agreeing,
and smiled to himself.

"Where are you going now, Wuellersdorf? It is too early yet for the
Ministry."

"I am not going there at all today. First I shall take an hour's walk
along the canal to the Charlottenburg lock and then back again. And
then make a short call at Huth's on Potsdam St., going cautiously up
the little wooden stairway. Below there is a flower store."

"And that affords you pleasure? That satisfies you?"

"I should not say that exactly, but it will help a bit. I shall find
various regular guests there drinking their morning glass, but their
names I wisely keep secret. One will tell about the Duke of Ratibor,
another about the Prince-Bishop Kopp, and a third perhaps about
Bismarck. There is always a little something to be learned.
Three-fourths of what is said is inaccurate, but if it is only witty I
do not waste much time criticising it and always listen gratefully."

With that he went out.

CHAPTER XXXVI

May was beautiful, June more beautiful, and after Effi had happily
overcome the first painful feeling aroused in her by Rollo's arrival,
she was full of joy at having the faithful dog about her again.
Roswitha was praised and old von Briest launched forth into words of
recognition for Innstetten, who, he said, was a cavalier, never petty,
but always stout-hearted. "What a pity that the stupid affair had to