Lotte pulled a face and exchanged a meaningful look with Dr Astel, but Gurdweill did not notice. Whenever he mentioned Thea’s name in company he felt uncomfortable, and tried to cover up his embarrassment by changing the subject as quickly as possible. He took a big gulp of beer, as if to swallow his discomfort. Again, there was a tense, uneasy silence between the three friends.

The customers in the café were leaving one by one. Some of them got into the cars waiting like a pack of expectant animals on the empty lot outside the terrace, hooted, and roared off into the night; others set off on foot, punctuating the darkness with bursts of laughter and occasional snatches of song. Lotte wanted to leave too. Her spirits had unaccountably risen, leading to an improvement in the mood of her companions as well. When they had left the buildings behind them and the lights had disappeared behind the trees, she began to run gaily down the smooth, steep road, obliging the other two to chase her, which they did with a will. Laughing in a high, clear voice, Lotte ran with small, rapid, drumming steps, while Dr Astel let her get ahead before bounding after her on his long, stilt-like legs and catching up with her immediately as she panted for breath, her bosom heaving. After this race had been repeated several times, Lotte said, ‘Gurdweill can’t run for toffee! Come and catch me!’

Gurdweill chased her and caught her. He was small, but quick and agile. She rested her head wearily on his shoulder and let it stay there until Dr Astel approached.

‘I’m tired out, children! I can’t walk anymore. You’ll have to carry me!’

The two men locked arms and made a seat for Lotte, who climbed onto it and put her arms around their necks. They carried her in this way for about fifty yards, while she rocked back and forth in time to their steps, as if she were riding a horse.

‘This is the old Lotte again,’ said Gurdweill to himself. ‘This is the way I remember her a year and a half ago.’ But nevertheless, his heart feared for her.

‘We can carry you like this all the way home!’ cried Dr Astel gaily. ‘You’re as light as a feather!’

At that Lotte decided to get down. She was no longer in the least tired. And besides, she was afraid that ‘poor Gurdweill’ would collapse under the strain.

Gurdweill assured her that she had nothing to worry about on his account. He could go on carrying her for hours: he would prove it to her! And Dr Astel, for his part, was prepared to carry her all by himself, all the way back to town. He would be delighted to do it!

But she wouldn’t have it. She wasn’t as tired as all that! As long as they didn’t walk too fast.