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Vienna, Tuesday evening
October 25, 1883
My darling girl
Yes, it is true, we have made a discovery which may not be insignificant, and you must forgive me if I talk a lot about it today. Yesterday in my joy I went to see Breuer as late as 9:30, and on my way there I thought up all kinds of compliments for his wife, so that she should not be bored by our conversation. For instance, “Not only women are beautiful, chemical preparations can be, too!” and a second one which I actually managed to make use of, as you will learn. Finding no one at home, I settled down in the consulting room and picked up the nearest book-I looked in vain for the cigar box. (I have been granted these rights once and for all.)
The book I picked up I liked so much I decided to send it to my Martha. Poor sweet princess, it is already ordered for you, but just now when I would so much like to give it to you as a celebration of our success, I am quite poor. As things never work out as one expects them to, Frau Mathilde1 came home first and informed me that I wouldn't be able to see her husband until eleven o'clock, that he actually was downstairs on his way to fetch the children, who had gone to the Karl Theater, where the Meininger2 are now giving a special performance. She hoped I wasn't annoyed. I was not in the least annoyed. I just mentioned that I had had such a pleasant day I would like to end it in the best possible company (my second compliment, which actually earned me a handshake), and then ran downstairs, where I met Breuer. “Let's go for a walk,” he said. We went arm in arm toward the Karl Theater and when I