It was indeed true!
Standing alone, a big straw hat on his head, Wagner waited for us on
the platform. To be sure, we had never before seen him, but how could
anyone fail to recognise him?
He, who had no idea how we looked, counted upon us to disclose
ourselves. Motionless, in full view, he scanned with close attention
the stream of arriving people. It was I who hurried toward him, in an
effusion of joy which dominated every other emotion.
He included us all in a steady and luminous gaze that reached to the
very soul, and then shook hands with us.
After a moment of solemn silence, he smiled and offered me his arm.
"Come," said he to me, "if you do not look for too much magnificence,
you will like the Hôtel du Lac. I have engaged rooms for you there."
And, with quick steps, he drew me outside the station.
On the way to the hotel he paused for a moment, and turning on me a
steady and serious gaze said, with every appearance of emotion,
"It is a very noble sentiment that brings us together, Madam!"
The hotel was near the station, and when we arrived, the Master,
after recommending us to the care of the host, turned and said to us
with a whimsical air: "Now I am going to prepare myself to receive
you, otherwise I should make blunders. You will come presently to
'Tribschen,' will you not, as soon as you have rested a little? Come by
the lake, that is the most convenient way."
To prepare himself to receive us!
From an upper window we watched him, as with quick steps he went away,
saw him cross the old bridge, reach the quay, take a boat.
Without speaking a word, with the same worshipping expression upon
every face, we followed him with our eyes.... Then, when he had quite
disappeared, "Quick! let us dress quickly! We certainly will not allow
him to wait for us."