| Hanover, 13 Mai, 1867.
My pretty little Cacadou,
My best thanks
for your letter, and that of the worthy
Quoquo
. You complain that I had given no signs of
life, but on reviewing the question you will find that, on the whole, I have
given weekly signals. Moreover, you know that I am not of a very “demonstrative”
character, of rather retiring habitudes, a slow writer, a clumsy sort of man,
or, as Quoquo has it, an anxious man.
I shall leave Hanover the day after
tomorrow
, and probably leave Hamburg by first steamer
for London. Yet, you must not expect me to settle the day and the hour. I have
still some business to transact with
my publisher
. At all events,
this is the last week of my continental
stay
.
I am very glad that
my
photogramm
has
met with such good reception. The shadow is at all events less troublesome than
the original.
As to Mrs
Tenge
, I wonder that you ask me how
she looks, whether she is pretty?
I have sent
you
Jenny
her photogram, hidden behind my own.
How could it have been lost? Now, to answer your questions, she is 33 years of
age, mother of 5 children, rather interesting than pretty, and certainly no
professional wit. But she is a superior woman. As to “flirting”, he would be
rather a bold man who were to try it. As to “admiration”, I owe it, and there
may, perhaps, have been, on her side, some overestimation of your most humble
and “modest” master. You know, if no
one is a
prophet on his own dunghill (speaking symbolically), people are easily
overvalued by strangers who, legen sie nicht aus, so legen sie doch unter, and
find what they were resolved upon to find in a fellah. She has left Hanover
Thursday last.
| Eight days since, the weather was still frosty and
rainy. Now summer has at once burst into full bloom. On the whole, the weather,
since my departure, was here as bad and changeable as it used to be in London.
Only, and this is a great thing, the air is thinner.
These continentals have an easier life of it that we on the other side of the
Northern sea. With 2000 Thaler (300 £) you can live here most comfortably. For
inst., there exist here different gardens (à la
Cremourn
, but
for
//
“respectable”,
and where all sort of people meet), much more artistically arranged than any in
London, good music being played every evening etc, where you can subscribe for
self and family—for the whole year—at the price of 2 Thalers, 6 sh.! This is
only a specimen of the cheap life the Philister indulge in at this place. Young
people amuse themselves more freely and at almost no
expence,
comparatively speaking. There is of course one great drawback—the atmosphere is
pregnant with dullness. The standard of existence is too small. It is a lot of
pigmees amongst whom you want no very high frame to feel
like
Gulliver
amidst
the
Lilliputians
.
There arrive this morning rather “excited” letters from
Berlin. It seems that a collision between the workmen and the Pickelhauben is
apprehended. I do not expect much for the present, but there is something
brewing. The working class, in the greater centres of Germany, are commencing to
assume a more decided and threatening attitude. One fine morning there will be a
nice dance!
And now my dear little birdseye, Cacadou, secretary, cook, equestrian, poet, auf
Wiedersehn. Viele Gruesse an
Möhmchen
,
Quoquo
and
Queque
,
Hellen
, and last not least,
our 
| “
medical
mutual
friend
”
.
Adio
Your master
Old Nick.
Enclosed
Hegel
,
presented by
Kugelm.
to
Mons.
Lafargue
.