Chapter 7, continued Summary

The day after the feast, Hans visits Peeperkorn, who is recovering from a fever attack. Peeperkorn welcomes Hans. He talks at length and coherently about the quinine he takes for his fever, and about tropical poisons and their uses in medicine. When he is not bed-ridden, Peeperkorn hosts other parties and outings to local sights, some including Naphta and Settembrini, Wehsal and Ferge. Except for Anton Ferge, the group is full of half-concealed tensions and rivalries, all swirling around Hans Castorp and his relationship with Clavdia. Peeperkorn's massive "royal" personality seems to diminish the two adversaries. Hans slyly points this out to Settembrini one day, who cannot understand why Hans pays more attention to Peeperkorn than to Clavdia. Hans tries to explain the attractions of Peeperkorn's personality, but Settembrini accuses him of making an enigma into an idol. Both Settembrini and...