Thea gave her husband a mocking sidelong glance, which cast him into confusion. He said nothing.

‘Well, when will you come, Herr Doktor? What shall I tell Gustl? And the Baroness?’ Heidelberger urged.

They promised to drop in when they had a chance, and rose to leave. Heidelberger was still ‘thirsty’ and he remained behind. It was already half past ten, but they decided to go on to the café nevertheless.

‘What kind of a woman is this Gustl?’ asked Thea casually.

‘A simple woman,’ said Gurdweill evasively, feeling rather uncomfortable. ‘There isn’t much to say about her.’

‘But you seem to have had great success with her. How strange …’

Gurdweill said nothing. ‘How sharp their senses are!’ he reflected. ‘She caught on immediately!’

‘That Heidelberger isn’t half as much of a fool as he looks. I’d like to get to the bottom of him one day … What would you say, for instance, to a little swap?’

Gurdweill pretended he didn’t know what she was talking about.

‘It would be interesting …’

‘What could possibly be so interesting about it?’ Gurdweill wanted to protest. But he restrained himself in time. Better to hold his tongue and not fan the flame of her lust by open resistance. If he kept quiet she might forget all about it. He hated the idea of Heidelberger touching his wife. Him especially … and with his own approval too! Never mind the others: he didn’t know them and he didn’t really know if it was true. But to have it out in the open, with his permission — no! If she had to, then let her do it in secret, without his knowledge … His consent was out of the question. If only her pregnancy were already over! When the baby came, everything would change for the better. Then nothing would matter. Then he would be able to bear everything easily.

Not a trace of his previous good mood remained. The old melancholy, which seemed to have become a permanent part of his personality, began to gnaw at his heart again. He no longer paid any attention to the evening air caressing his face with its cool, reviving touch, or noticed the rattling trams dashing to and fro in the spacious Schottenring. Perhaps it would have been better if he had gone for a walk by himself, as he had originally intended.