Monday, August 14:
Walküre, this time without trouble, except for an incident which alarms R. greatly: he is summoned to the Emperor, who praises everything highly, says jokingly that, if he were an orchestral player, R. would never have got him down into the orchestra pit, and regrets not being able to remain for more than the two performances, whereupon R. replies, “Favor is not dependent on time and place.” The Grand Duchess, however, says she is staying on. R.: “Then you extend the favor.” The Emperor, jokingly: “That was a dig.”
He says goodbye, takes a step backward, does not notice the doorstep, stumbles so awkwardly that it takes all of R.’s strength to hold him; he is convinced that this backward fall would have meant the death of the Emperor! ...