In honour of the barometer, an outing to Alexandersbad, despite a most blustery wind. Much mirth over the “triumph of science”: the swallows fly very low, and the wind blows frightfully; yet the road from Berneck to Bischofsgrün is most lovely, with the fir trees nodding in the breeze. In Bischofsgrün, fine trout — great cheerfulness. R. consults the barometer at the office, knocks over his flower pots, but sees that it has risen. Splendid weather in Alexandersbad; ascent of the Luisenburg, though it proves less suited to us.
At the hotel, Fidi wishes to make himself a firework and sets the curtain alight! Great alarm. He remains silent, signals the fire by rattling the door, and vanishes through the back door. R., in the midst of dressing, extinguishes the flames stark naked — meanwhile, the very scene he has often dreamed unfolds: the entire spa house, having seen the blaze from without, rushes in to help douse the fire, and in his ridiculous state, R. withdraws with difficulty. Good spirits afterwards; Fidi likely cured of his fondness for matches for life, while I, from the fright, am nearly ill. Fidi refuses to sleep in his room again, convinced the fire still burns!
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.