‘We’re off to the old Baron’s for lunch,’ said Thea, ‘but do come in anyway. We’ve got a little time left.’

Ulrich came in and sat on the edge of the couch without removing his coat.

‘I honestly don’t feel like it,’ said Gurdweill, his tongue loosened a little in the presence of a third person. ‘But Thea’s promised and they’re expecting us. What’s up with you, Ulrich?’

‘Nothing’s up with me, as you know. One does one’s best to enjoy one’s heaven-sent idleness without complaining. I haven’t seen you around for a few days and was afraid that something had happened to you. And what about you, Thea? How did you spend the “Holy Night”?’

‘In deadly boredom, my friend. Holiness is always boring, it’s a well-known fact.’

‘You may be right,’ said Ulrich. ‘I also thought I’d go out of my mind with boredom last night. But for the snow, I would certainly have hanged myself.’

‘The snow? What do you mean?’ Thea laughed. ‘If I wanted to hang myself, the snow wouldn’t have stopped me.’

‘Yes, the snow! When I saw the white street, I changed my mind … I thought I might as well take a last stroll in the first snow. And I did and I was saved. Because after the stroll I didn’t feel like doing it anymore. I simply went to sleep. And you were at home, were you? If I’d known, I would have dropped in.’

Ulrich stood up. ‘Well, I won’t keep you any longer. Perhaps you’ll be in the café later on this afternoon?’

‘Not me,’ said Thea. ‘I have to go somewhere. Maybe later, about sixish. How about you, Rudolfus?’

‘I don’t know yet. Probably yes, but I can’t say for sure.’

They went down to the street. Gurdweill and Thea set off for the Praterstern to take a tram, and Ulrich accompanied them. The cold was damp and penetrating. Gurdweill felt as if it were directed specifically against him. He raised his collar and huddled into his shabby coat. ‘It’s an inner cold,’ he thought to himself, ‘the coals are burned out … What does Dr Astel always say? “Human beings should be well heated and oiled …”’ Yes, Dr Astel! He hadn’t seen him for ages. Or Lotte.

‘Have you seen Dr Astel lately?’ he asked Ulrich, who was talking to Thea. ‘What’s he up to?’

‘Nothing! His friend Bloch has come from Berlin for the holidays. I expect he’ll be in the café this afternoon.’

At the tram stop they found Dr Kreindel, wrapped in a fine fur coat and smoking a cigar. He saw them coming in the distance and took a few steps towards them.