in accordance with the instructions which the Councillor gave from time to time.  However, the absurdity of the whole business, the growing conviction that things would in the end turn out better than might have been expected, but above all, Krespel’s generosity—­which indeed cost him nothing—­kept them all in good-humor.  Thus were the difficulties overcome which necessarily arose out of this eccentric way of building, and in a short time there was a completely finished house, its outside, indeed, presenting a most extraordinary appearance, no two windows, etc., being alike, but on the other hand the interior arrangements suggested a peculiar feeling of comfort.  All who entered the house bore witness to the truth of this; and I too experienced it myself when I was taken in by Krespel after I had become more intimate with him.  For hitherto I had not exchanged a word with this eccentric man; his building had occupied him so much that he had not even once been to Professor M—–­’s to dinner, as he was in the habit of doing on Tuesdays.  Indeed, in reply to a special invitation, he sent word that he should not set foot over the threshold before the house-warming of his new building took place.  All his friends and acquaintances, therefore, confidently looked forward to a great banquet; but Krespel invited nobody except the masters, journeymen, apprentices, and laborers who had built the house.  He entertained them with the choicest viands; bricklayers’ apprentices devoured partridge pies regardless of consequences; young joiners polished off roast pheasants with the greatest success; whilst hungry laborers helped themselves for once to the choicest morsels of truffes fricassees.  In the evening their wives and daughters came, and there was a great ball.  After waltzing a short while with the wives of the masters, Krespel sat down amongst the town musicians, took a violin in his hand, and directed the orchestra until daylight.

On the Tuesday after this festival, which exhibited Councillor Krespel in the character of a friend of the people, I at length saw him appear, to my no little joy, at Professor M—–­’s.  Anything more strange and fantastic than Krespel’s behavior it would be impossible to find.  He was so stiff and awkward in his movements, that he looked every moment as if he would run up against something or do some damage.  But he did not; and the lady of the house seemed to be well aware that he would not, for she did not grow a shade paler when he rushed with heavy steps round a table crowded with beautiful cups, or when he manoeuvred near a large mirror that reached down to the floor, or even when he seized a flower-pot of beautifully painted porcelain and swung it round in the air as if desirous of making its colors play.  Moreover, before dinner he subjected everything in the Professor’s room to a most minute examination; he also took down a picture from the wall and hung it up again, standing on one of the cushioned chairs to do so.  At the same time