The man looked at him insolently for a moment and said in a plump, self-satisfied voice, ‘Certainly, sir,’ blowing another cloud of smoke into Gurdweill’s face as he spoke.

Gurdweill moved his chair noisily and turned his back on the man. ‘What a swine!’ he muttered to himself, but loudly enough to be overheard.

‘What? What did you say, sir?’ His neighbour tapped him on the shoulder with his knuckles as if knocking on a door. ‘Please repeat what you just said!’

Gurdweill jumped up, his face burning. ‘I must ask you to leave me alone, just leave me alone!’ he repeated in a trembling voice, bending down and thrusting his face into the other’s.

The man apparently took fright and said in a conciliatory tone: ‘Calm yourself, sir, I beg you; nobody’s trying to provoke you. Your nerves must be very poor.’

‘My nerves are nothing to do with you! Mind your own business!’

The whole exchange took place in whispers and was over in a moment, without attracting any particular attention. It looked as if the two of them were acquainted and, having met by chance, were taking the opportunity to exchange a few casual remarks. Only Lotte noticed that something was amiss.

Gurdweill resumed his seat at the table. His anger disappeared, as if swept away by a storm. When he raised his eyes, he saw Lotte looking at him and began smiling for no apparent reason. She leaned towards him over the table and whispered, ‘You taught him a lesson, that fat pig!’

‘If only he was capable of treating his wife in the same way,’ she thought, ‘how different everything would be!’

‘Will you join us for supper, Gurdweill?’ said Dr Astel.

He could not say. He was waiting for Thea to arrive.

When was he expecting her?

‘At about six.’

‘Well, it’s nearly seven now. We’ll wait another half an hour. If she comes, we’ll all go together.’

At that moment Thea appeared.

‘Here comes Thea!’ cried Lotte, who was sitting facing the door.

‘You’re rather pale, my dear,’ said Thea to Lotte, after greeting them all and sitting down on her husband’s chair, ‘it’s a long time since I saw you last. The winter seems to have disagreed with you.’ She suppressed a spiteful smile. ‘Let’s hope that the summer will restore you …’

Lotte did not reply.

‘Why don’t you drop in to visit us one day, my dear? You know our address, I think.’

‘You’re always so busy, even in the middle of the night … The time never seems right to pay you a visit.’