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Vienna, Thursday
May 13, 1886
My beloved darling
I won't be able to write to you any more during my consulting hours because there is too much going on. The waiting room is full of people and I shall hardly be finished by three o'clock. The takings are not yet very brilliant, but the patients who avail themselves of my services are quite numerous, though there aren't many paying ones among them: Frau Prof. M, who gives me a lot of trouble, the sciatica case which is almost cured, and the two police officials who come once a week. Tomorrow T. is coming. Today my earnings amounted to eight florins: three from a police official and five again through Breuer, who sent Frau Dr. K. She came to ask for some advice to relieve her husband.
I realize that for a doctor work and income are two very different things. Sometimes one makes money without lifting a finger, at other times one slaves away without reward. The day before yesterday, for instance, an American physician came to see me with a nervous complaint-a complicated case which interests me so much that I took it on without getting anything out of it. His case is complicated by his relationship with his beautiful and interesting wife with whom I also have to deal and on whose account I am going to see Prof. Chrobak1 tomorrow. I am too tired to describe to you in detail all the delicate aspects. It seemed weird to me that on both the occasions she was here your photograph, which has otherwise never budged, fell off the writing table. I don't like such hints, and if a warning were needed-but none is needed.
And a doctor is supposed to economize! Here I am counting every gulden and I am called to go and see a distant acquaintance in the Stadtgutgasse, no remuneration of course, and two hours out of the day gone, for I cannot afford a cab. Today the same. When I get home I find an urgent message to go and see the man again. This time of course I am obliged to take a cab, and what I have saved in suppers during the past three d