Gurdweill began walking towards the city centre. He had no idea as yet of where he was going, but he was glad to be alone again. The penetrating cold of the morning had grown somewhat milder. There was a faint wind blowing too, which seemed to give off an imperceptible whiff of spring. Without hurrying, pausing frequently, he strolled down Währinger Strasse, which was steeped in a holiday atmosphere; passed the old people’s home, where the clock said a quarter to three; reached the Schottentor; and turned right into the Ring, without any definite destination in mind. His spirits suddenly lifted, as if all the obstacles in his path had been swept away; his step quickened of its own accord. Whichever way you looked at it, everything was as it should be, from every point of view … what, pray, did he lack? Why, you might almost say that he was a man to be envied — without any exaggeration! And if, God forbid, everything were lost, everything, he would still have himself, he himself, Gurdweill, with all his five senses intact. Five senses in good working order should be quite enough for anyone, no? The whole world was his!

Outside the Parliament Building he hesitated unconsciously for a moment, like a hypnotised subject in a theatre-show the moment before he points at the person holding the hidden object in his hand, and turned into the side street. After taking a few steps he realised that he was in Lerchenfelder Strasse, and came to a halt. What was he looking for here? The moment the question crossed his mind, it occurred to him that he was standing next to Lotte Bondheim’s house. ‘If this is what my feet command,’ he said facetiously to himself, ‘I must obey them. They know best …’ And he took the elevator up to the second floor.

The maid left him in the lobby for a moment, and then she came back and led him into the drawing room that was already familiar to him.

‘Please wait here, sir. Fräulein Lotte will be with you in a moment.’

He sat down in a brown leather armchair, and before long Lotte came in wearing her kimono and gave him her hand without showing any sign of surprise, as if she had been expecting him.

‘I had a premonition that I would see you today. But I didn’t know that you would actually honour me with a visit. I was about to get dressed and drop in to the café. I have an appointment with Dr Astel, but not until half past five. In any case, it’s a good thing you came.’

She drew up a chair, sat down, and gave Gurdweill a penetrating look.

‘And where has Thea gone?’ she asked suddenly.

‘Thea’s gone … She had to go somewhere.’

Lotte smiled ironically.

‘If you have a cigarette,’ he added, ‘I’d be grateful. I forgot to buy any.’