When the servant had left me alone I looked curiously around the room. I saw curtains of expensive plush, carved mahogany furniture, a clean-washed palm, heavy bronze lamps--the usual sort of things that are given for wedding presents among well-to-do people. There was nothing that could be called ugly--and yet--and this was where he lived now? This was the result of all his dreams? But why didn’t she come? Probably the young wife could not make up her mind whether she ought to receive her husband’s old friend in his absence. I yawned a little. Time was flying, and I did not know when I might ever pass through this town again. I looked absent-mindedly over the table beside which I sat. On it there stood a majolica plate holding visiting cards, surrounded by large, handsomely bound books. To the right of the plate there stood a vase with fresh flowers. To the left, slightly to one side, there was a little mother-of-pearl bowl, in which lay an amulet with an engraved stone and a tiny smelling bottle of Venetian glass, the sort of thing that looks expensive and probably costs but a few soldi. I heard a noise in the room adjoining, listened impatiently, and then took the amulet in my hand and examined the stone. It bore a finely worked head of Apollo. A carriage stopped before the house. A carriage? Then Philip must have a good practise. Strange--I could imagine that he would be more apt to explain to his patients that all medical theory was a swindle anyhow-- A shout of rejoicing came from the corridor: “Oh, but that’s great! But, dearest, why didn’t you--” “I did not think it was right--without you.” “Little goosie! Dearest little goosie!” Then followed a storm of kisses, interrupted by a reproach: “Oh, Philip, she can hear everything.” “Of course she can! Let her!” he cried happily, tore the door open, and pushed a pretty little blond, doll-like creature before him into the room. “There--there you are! You must love each other, you two!” His delicate, scholarly face shone in purest joy. The young wife held out her hand to me and told me that she was very happy to make my acquaintance, Philip had told her so much about me. And yet she kept me waiting for half an hour! When she left us to order another plate for the dinner-table, Philip’s eyes followed her, shining with love. And then he explained to me that his choice had been dictated mainly by common sense, because he believed it necessary for his restless experimenting nature to have some one at his side whose character was calm and decided. And his little wife was very firm and decided. * * * * * Four years had passed before I again found an opportunity to hear anything from the young couple. Philip never wrote letters, on principle. I therefore should hardly have felt that I had a right to call him my friend. And yet I made a detour that I might visit him and his wife.