IV
Diederich would like to have slept until the afternoon, as in the good old days of the Neo-Teutons, but the Ratskeller presented its bill, which was considerable enough to compel him to get up and go to the office. He felt very badly, and everything conspired to irritate him, even the family. His sisters demanded their monthly dress allowance, and, when he said he hadn't it, they contrasted him with old Sötbier, who had never failed them. Diederich dealt energetically with this attempt at revolt. In the hoarse tones of one who is suffering from a bad head he gave the girls to understand that they would have to accustom themselves to a different state of affairs. Sötbier, of course, had been very free with the money and had let down the whole business. "If I had to pay you your shares to-day you'd be damnably surprised at how little it would amount to." While he spoke he became impressed by the injustice of his ever being obliged to give the two girls a share in the business. That would have to be prevented, was his reflection. They, on the other hand, became more insistent. "So, we cannot pay the dress-maker, but you drink one hundred and fifty marks' worth of champagne." Thereupon Diederich's wrath was terrible to behold. They were opening his letters! They were spying on him! He wasn't master in his own house, but just a clerk, a slave, who had to toil hard for the ladies so that they might loaf about all day doing nothing! He shouted and stamped until the glasses tinkled. Frau Hessling begged plaintively for peace; only their fear prompted the two sisters to answer back, but there was no stopping Diederich now that he had started.
"How dare you dictate to me, you pack of silly women?
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