She then describes — in a very detailed entry — how she approached her roommate, Mr. Düssel, very politely, after having first discussed the matter with her father. She asks Mr. Düssel if she may use the work table in their room for an extra hour-and-a-half twice a week. She explains that there is too much going on in the common room, and that although she is able to work on the table every day from half-past two until four, while Düssel sleeps, she needs more time to work. She is very disappointed and angry when Düssel absolutely refuses her request without giving any explanation. Yet, Anne keeps her temper and asks him to reconsider. She then recounts Düssel's selfish, melodramatic, and false tirade against her, again describing her own self-restraint and the immense mental effort that this discipline represents for her. Eventually, at her request, her father intervenes on Anne's behalf, and Düssel gives in. Anne concludes: "Düssel . . . didn't speak to me for two days and still had to go and sit at the table from five till half-past — frightfully childish. A person of fifty-four who is still pedantic and small-minded must be so by nature, and will never improve" (July 13, 1943).
Various events occur to alarm the group in the "Secret Annexe." The offices downstairs are burglarized, although this is noticed only after it has occurred sometime during the night (July 16, 1943). The air raids continue by day as well as by night so that there is a constant fear of both fire and discovery. The news that Mussolini has resigned provides some encouragement, but the emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from the sleepless nights of the air raids continues (July 26, 1943).
