There they were, sitting in the sun, chatting, and I felt content. It was rather like a eunuch’s contentment; if I’d been proud, I might have said a Pasha’s – but it wasn’t that at all. I felt so secure in their presence. Billie had been with us for four days, and in those four days we hadn’t had a single wrong moment together . . . it was all lightness and happiness.

‘What was he like?’ I heard the Princess ask. ‘The soles of his feet and the parting in his hair were a gentleman’s,’ said Sibylle, ‘but in between . . .’ I didn’t know whom they were talking about – I had just picked up the tail end.

‘Oh nonsense!’ said the Princess. ‘If a man is no good, you should leave him as fast as you can. As for that woman, she must be so stupid to stand for it. Oh well! Hey, look! Ssh! Sit quietly – then he’ll come nearer . . . Look at the way his tail bobs about!’ A little bird hopped up to us, inclined his head to one side, and then flew off, alarmed by something in his brain – we hadn’t moved.

‘What kind of bird was that?’ Billie asked.

‘That was a bulbulfinch,’ said the Princess.

‘Come on, silly – that wasn’t a bullfinch . . .’ said Billie.

‘I’ll tell you something,’ I lectured. ‘With those sort of answers it doesn’t matter if they’re right or not. They just have to be prompt! Jakopp told me once, how when their group went on an excursion, there was always one who was the information-wallah. He had to know everything. And when he was asked, What’s that building? He had to say, and quick, that’s the District Savings Bank of Lower Saxony! He didn’t have the faintest, but everyone was satisfied: the gap had been filled. That’s how it is.’

The girls smiled politely, and suddenly I was alone with my joke. Just a split second, then it was over. They got up.

‘Let’s have a race!’ said Billie. ‘Once round the meadow! Ready, steady – go!’

We ran. Billie led; she ran evenly, her well-trained body worked like a precise little machine . . . it was a joy to run with her. Behind me the Princess gasped occasionally. ‘Keep calm!’ I said to myself. ‘Breathe through your nose – use the whole of your foot – not too much spring!’ We ran on. Billie let out a long breath and stopped; we had gone almost once round the big meadow.

‘Whew!’ We were very hot. ‘The castle, and a shower!’ We took our bathing wraps and walked slowly over the meadow. I carried my gym shoes in my hand, and the grass tickled my feet. It’s good being with the girls, without any tension. Without tension?

2

‘What shall we take the child as a present?’

‘Sweets,’ suggested Billie.