He did not notice that Wilhelm's expression of face was painfully distorted, nor that his words wounded him deeply.

They had come to the Brandenburger Thor, and were walking over the Pariser Platz.

Under the lindens they were surrounded at once by noise and bustle.

The streets were full of rowdy bands of men who sang and shouted all together, now pushing one another in violent rudeness, now shouting "Health to the New Year," here knocking off an angry Philistine's hat, there surrounding and embracing some honest man who was wearily making his way homeward; insulting the police by imitating their military ways, laying hold of their sticks, talking pompously to the night-watchman, and otherwise playing the fool.

After the silence of the Koniggratzer Strasse, the drunken turmoil of this noisy mob was doubly unpleasant, and the two friends hastened to escape into the Schadowstrasse.