another without reference to Diederich, and in a way that offended him. They carried on clever and caustic conversations, apparently without the spirit and the other factors which normally stimulated the intercourse of the sexes. When they lowered their voices and became confidential Diederich found them absolutely sinister. He had the choice of interfering and bringing about more formal relations, or of simply leaving the room. To his own astonishment he chose the latter. "They have both, so to speak, fulfilled their fate, if fate it can be called," he said to himself with a sense of superiority which overwhelmed him. He hardly noticed that, at bottom, he was proud of Emma, because his own sister, Emma, was smart enough, peculiar enough, indeed, unusual enough, to get on with Wolfgang Buck. "Who knows?" he thought hesitatingly, and finally decided: "Why not! Bismarck did the same thing with Austria; first a defeat and then an alliance!"
These obscure reflections prompted Diederich again to take a certain interest in Wolfgang's father. Old Buck's heart was affected and he was now rarely seen, and when he was, he was usually standing in front of a shop-window apparently absorbed in the display, but in reality solely concerned to conceal the fact that he could not breathe. What did he think? How did he judge the new commercial prosperity of Netzig, the renaissance of patriotism, and those who now exercised authority? Was he convinced and inwardly vanquished? It happened that Dr. Hessling, the most powerful person in the community, would slip surreptitiously through a certain doorway, and then creep along unobserved behind this power less half-forgotten old man. In his elevated position he was mysteriously disturbed by a dying man. … As old Buck was in arrears with the interest on his mortgage, Diederich proposed to the son that he should take over the house. Of course he would allow the old gentleman to occupy it so long as he was alive. Diederich wanted also to buy the furniture and pay for it at once. Wolfgang induced his father to accept.
