But he lived for one thing only—the coming of the voice of Egeria, as he called the spirit of the dead countess....
Her voice came to him continually ... preluded by strains of music ... he lived from day to day with her lovely speech, a clairaudient.
As long as nothing material was involved, he was regarded as merely a gentle eccentric ... by his relatives and the bourgeoisie....
But as soon as word came that he had inherited a fortune through the death of a rich uncle in America—the attitude of the people around him changed. His relatives began intriguing to have him declared insane.
But the village burgomaster, ordinarily decent, saw through their artifices....
Goaded and goaded, finally Iistral assailed his pestering relatives with a shovel with which he was working among the gentle flowers in the garden ... at his customary task of tending them with Lisel....
And now the burgomaster, bribed, had reason to adjudge him insane.
And Iistral was dragged off, wailing, to the asylum.
With my clothes in literal rags I went through the rehearsals, attended classes, kept up my athletics....