Gurdweill suddenly stood up and began walking slowly towards Dr Kreindel. There was a wild expression on his face, which was very pale. Dr Kreindel broke off abruptly and followed Gurdweill’s every move as if he were watching a wild animal about to pounce on him at any moment. Gurdweill reached the desk and stood facing Dr Kreindel. For a moment he glared at him in silence, and then he said in a slightly hoarse whisper, measuring every word:

‘You, Dr Kreindel, do you want me to finish the letters this morning? Yes or no? If the answer is yes, then shut up! Just shut up!’

Suddenly the face opposite him looked like that of some unimaginably repulsive insect, and his rage changed instantly into a feeling of terrible nausea. His legs felt weak and exhausted, as if they had dissolved into water. Without waiting for an answer, he turned round and returned to his desk.

‘Is that all, my dear?’ Dr Kreindel sniggered. ‘You needn’t have troubled yourself to get up for that, hee-hee … Am I deaf? I can hear from a distance too, you know, especially words of yours, which are worth their weight in gold … You really shouldn’t have bothered! As for the letters — what’s the rush? If they’re not ready this afternoon it won’t be a tragedy either! What are letters? When we have such important matters to discuss! Are we such gross materialists? This unique friendship of ours has nothing to do with such pettiness; you know it as well as I do. Us two — and letters! That’s all for outward show, for small minds … But the true relationship between us is one of the spirit, the intellect … twin souls …’