Gurdweill decided to walk to the Café Herrenhof, which was not far off. Cold and stinging, the fine rain drizzled on his face. He took a shortcut, passed the back of the Burgtheater, and soon found himself in Herrengasse. The sight of the people he encountered in the rainy streets, preoccupied with their daily cares as usual, came as something of a shock. He thought it strange that none of them seemed aware of the real, terrible suffering lying in wait for human beings with every step they took, in comparison to which all kinds of everyday aggravations were as nothing. ‘On the other hand,’ he said to himself, ‘it’s probably for the best — otherwise it would be impossible to go on living …’

Ulrich was still sitting in the café, in a window alcove, with Perczik, who was reading Der Abend and smoking.

‘You certainly take your time, Gurdweill,’ Ulrich greeted him with a mild reprimand, ‘it’s a quarter to six. I was just about to go. Well, what was it like over there?’

‘Nothing special,’ Gurdweill answered unwillingly as he sat down. ‘Sick people.’

But Ulrich was not satisfied. ‘What about your friend?’ he asked.

Perczik put his newspaper down and pricked up his ears: perhaps there was material here for a feuilleton.

‘My friend,’ said Gurdweill vaguely, ‘is sick too. Presumably. Otherwise she wouldn’t be there.’

‘Do they let anyone in?’ Ulrich tried again.

‘Where, where?’ Perczik pounced.

‘The Rothschild Hospital,’ said Gurdweill, irritated by Perczik’s curiosity. ‘Café au lait, Herr Krieger.’

A shadow of annoyance crossed Perczik’s face. He knew very well where Gurdweill had been, and was eager to hear what he had to say, but Gurdweill refused to say anything. He enquired with a show of sympathy: ‘Is your wife feeling better? I heard she wasn’t well.’

‘Yes, thank you.’

‘Is she at the Rothschild Hospital?’

‘If you like …’

Perczik despaired of drawing Gurdweill into conversation and took up his paper again.

Ulrich realised that Gurdweill was very upset and left him alone for a while. Then he said, ‘Lotte dropped in about half an hour ago. She’ll be back at six. She wants to see you.’