‘Phoo!’ cried the child boastfully. ‘Lots of times! Last year we went there too. It takes a whole day in the train to get there. You go over three awfully high bridges, and I’m allowed to look out of the window too! Mummy lets me look. It’s awfully deep down there, but I’m not afraid, not even a tiny little bit! There are tiny little houses down there and cows as small as flies, but they’re real live cows. They stand and eat with their necks stuck out and their heads on the ground. And there’s one black one, black all over like Herr Messerschmidt’s dog. I don’t like the black one — phoo, the ugly thing! Then comes a long, long tunnel. All of a sudden it gets so dark, you can’t see a thing. Not even Mummy. And we quickly close all the windows so nobody can fall out in the dark. But I’m not one bit afraid. And suddenly it’s light again. And the sun’s shining. Then we open the windows again. Then comes another tunnel, even longer. And it’s night again. And then we come to Ischl. The train goes: “Trr-ta! Trr-ta!” And then it hoots and then we’re already in Ischl. Your little boy would be afraid — all those little boys are so stupid! But I’m not afraid, not one little bit. Has he ever been in a train, your little boy?’

‘No,’ replied Gurdweill with a smile.

‘You see, it’s because he’s afraid.’

‘But, Tini, he’s not afraid at all,’ said Gurdweill, affectionately stroking her flaxen curls. ‘He’s a brave little fellow and soon he’ll be going to school too. And I’ll buy him a little car. A real car, green, with two seats and a spare wheel at the back. And then you can both ride in it together.’

‘Good!’ Tini agreed. ‘But who’s going to drive?’

‘You’ll both take turns. First you, then Martin.’

At that moment he caught sight of Dr Astel and Lotte in the distance. They had already seen him and were coming closer. He stood up and gave the little girl his hand.

‘Well, Tini, I have to go now. But we’ll meet again, won’t we?’

He nodded at the nanny and walked towards his friends.

‘Well, well, look who’s here!’ said Dr Astel. ‘Ever since you’ve become a father, nobody’s set eyes on you.’

Gurdweill blushed, and felt furious at himself for doing so.

‘And how is the son and heir? Everything all right? From the way you disappeared, anyone might have thought you were the one giving birth!’

‘I haven’t reached that stage yet,’ said Gurdweill in an attempt at a joke.

Lotte, who had been scrutinising him with an appraising look, finally asked: ‘And what is his name?’