Theirabsencewasplausiblyexplained，thenextmorning，bytheyoungGermanfriendwhocameintoseetheMarchesatbreakfast。HesaidHamburghadbeensolongafreerepublicthatthepresenceofalargeimperialgarrisonwasdistastefultothepeople，andasamatteroffacttherewereveryfewsoldiersquarteredthere，whethertheauthoritieschosetoindulgethepopulargrudgeornot。Hewashimselfinajoyfulflutterofspirits，forhehadjustthedaybeforegothisreleasefrommilitaryservice。Hegavethemanotionofwhattheraptureofamanreprievedfromdeathmightbe，andhewasasradiantlyhappyintheillhealthwhichhadgothimhisreleaseasifithadbeenthegreatestblessingofheaven。Hebubbledoverwithsmilingregretsthatheshouldbeleavinghishomeforthefirststageofthejourneywhichhewastotakeinsearchofstrength，justastheyhadcome，andhepressedthemtosayiftherewerenotsomethingthathecoulddoforthem。
Yes。”saidMrs。March，withapromptnesssurprisingtoherhusband，whocouldthinkofnothing；“telluswhereHeinrichHeinelivedwhenhewasinHamburg。Myhusbandhasalwayshadagreatpassionforhimandwantstolookhimupeverywhere。”
MarchhadforgottenthatHeineeverlivedinHamburg，andtheyoungmanhadapparentlyneverknownit。Hisfacefell；hewishedtomakeMrs。
MarchbelievethatitwasonlyHeine’sunclewhohadlivedthere；butshewasfirm；andwhenhehadaskedamongthehotelpeoplehecamebackgladlyowningthathewaswrong，andthatthepoetusedtoliveinKonigstrasse，whichwasverynearby，andwheretheycouldeasilyknowthehousebyhisbustsetinitsfront。TheportierandtheheadwaitersharedhisecstasyinsoeasilyobligingthefriendlyAmericanpair，andjoinedhiminminutelyinstructingthedriverwhentheyshutthemintotheircarriage。
TheydidnotknowthathiswasalmosttheonlylaughingfacetheyshouldseeintheseriousGermanEmpire；justastheydidnotknowthatitrainedthereeveryday。Astheydroveoffinthegraydrizzlewiththeunfoundedhopethatsoonerorlatertheweatherwouldbefine，theybadetheirdriverbeveryslowintakingthemthroughKonigstrasse，sothatheshouldbynomeansmissHeine’sdwelling，andhedulystoppedinfrontofahousebearingthepromisedbust。Theydismountedinordertorevereitmoreattheirease，butthebustproved，byanironybittererthanthesick，heart-breaking，brilliantJewcouldhaveimaginedinhiscruelestmoment，tobethatoftheGermanMilton，therespectablepoetKlopstock，whomHeineabhorredandmockedsopitilessly。