"
In face of this deep and unselfish concern over the condition of the
commonalty which trembled in Schrotter's voice and spoke from his
gloomy blue eyes, Wilhelm felt half ashamed of having made so much
of his own small troubles. He declared himself willing to send in
the petition, and for the first time for weeks he was able to think
of something else than Pilar and his dealings with regard to her.
Schrotter stayed for a few days, which he passed almost exclusively
with Wilhelm and Paul. All three felt themselves younger by ten
years in this renewal of their intimacy, and Paul said more than
once, "Would it not be splendid, Herr Doctor, if you two would buy
some property near me? Then, in the summer months at any rate, we
could all live together, so to speak. I am quite convinced that that
would be a sure way of keeping ourselves young forever." Schrotter
smiled at this proposal. All he wanted was to have Wilhelm near him
once more. In the meantime, Bhani, his patients, his poor, recalled
him to Berlin, and he left in hope that Wilhelm might be able to
follow him ere long.
Schrotter lost no time. He did his utmost to persuade influential
people to exert themselves on Wilhelm's behalf, but the difficulties
were greater than he had imagined.
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