To-day it happened that when we entered the drawing-room at Tribschen
we found our host there entertaining strangers, visitors! A gentleman
and a lady, both very small in figure and rather dull in aspect, were
sitting with an air of constraint, only one of them speaking.
The Master presented them.
"His Excellency The Counsellor Isérof and Madame Isérof, who have come
from Russia to see me."
We exchanged some rather cold salutations.
It was evident that our presence displeased the newcomers as much as
theirs disturbed us. They felt that we were more intimate than they in
the household; they saw that we were received very cordially, that Russ
and Cos did not bark, but gave evidence of pleasure in our arrival. Yet
these people were much older acquaintances of Wagner's than were we;
they certainly would have preferred to have the Master to themselves.
Ah! how well we could comprehend what they felt!
Madam Cosima followed me out on to the steps. We both leaned against
the iron railing, and she told me about the visitors.
"Counsellor Isérof is a composer well thought of in Russia, who is
worthy of being admitted into the free-masonry of the brotherhood if
only to uphold firmly the Wagnerian standard at Petersburg. Of his wife
there is not much to say. She seems to be rather in the background.
They are going, as you are, to Munich, to be present at the production
of the _Rheingold_."
"Well, between soldiers of the same army there must be good
understanding."
"Indeed yes. The Master will undoubtedly keep them to supper."
"Very well. We must be very amiable to Isérofitus and Isérofita!"