N.B. There is a 4½-month break between surviving conversation books 17 and 18.

[In Heft 18, Blätter 21r–27v seem to date from days just prior to Blätter 1r–20v, and therefore appear in that order in this edition.]

[Blatt 21r]

NEPHEW KARL [probably at Beethoven's newly occupied apartment at Obere Pfarrgasse No. 60 in the southwestern suburb of Windmühle; probably

Thursday, October 31, or Friday, November 1 (All Saints’ Day)]:

There are 4 trunks here. // He is making out the bill. 20 fl. 20 kr. [W.W.?] for everything. // We are doing the glass. //

Next week. // Wednesday of next week [November 6]. // To [lawyer] Bach. [//]

The short woman, who was there once as housekeeper, once as kitchen maid, was here already several times; also today; I kept it short, so she went immediately. She asked about the old woman [housekeeper Barbara Holzmann]. [//] [Blatt 21v] I told her about it. // She would really like to be back here. // At the countess's where she was, she had a fuel-saving stove that was newly invented. She will look around for such a one, and then tell you. [//]

Conjectura philosophica [philosophical conjecture]. [//] [Blatt 22r]

I must take him Bach's note to you. //

For several days on end, I have seen the same maid, standing at the house door with her lover. In general our house is quite full of common people. //

The housekeeper has gone to check about a fuel-saving stove. // There doesn't need to be a stove in the servant's room. [//] [Blatt 22v] A place will already have been found for one. // From a passenger who hasn't paid. //

Haven't you heard about the actor Küstner, who shot himself? [//] Now a painter has attempted the speculation by portraying him (as he looked when he pulled the trigger of the pistol) on tin boxes, [Blatt 23r] and selling them. // Because he had received an engagement from the Burg [Theater], he wanted to shorten the 24-year contract with Count Palffy by 3 years, and falsified the handwriting. Then he killed himself out of shame.