Dr Astel was not at home, and Gurdweill descended the stairs again and stood next to the entrance to wait for him. He could not get out of his mind the cat that Freddy had killed. In vivid detail, he imagined the cruel scene. He saw Freddy holding the tabby cat by the neck, while it twitched and twitched. Gradually the twitching grew weaker until it stopped — the cat was dead. The scene filled him with inexpressible disgust, but he could not dismiss it from his sight, and was forced to watch to the bitter end. The deed had been done at dusk, of this Gurdweill was certain, when there was nobody at home. Afterwards the murderer had taken an empty suitcase — the smooth brown calfskin case with yellowing labels saying Budapest, Bruck, Graz, etc., stuck on its sides, which Gurdweill had often seen in his in-laws’ house — placed the body inside it, and carried it to the Danube. He himself, in similar circumstances, would have thrown the evidence of his crime into the Danube, Gurdweill reflected, and was horrified at the thought. He began pacing agitatedly to and fro in the deserted street. Of course, he could also have thrown it behind some nearby fence. Firstly, because he didn’t want to carry it all the way to the canal, and secondly, because he was pressed for time. Someone could come home at any minute and surprise him when he returned with the suitcase — and then it would all come out … No, he couldn’t take it to the canal, it was too risky … ‘But what has the whole disgusting business got to do with me?’ he interrupted himself impatiently.

He took out his watch: it was half past six. Dr Astel was late today. Perhaps he wasn’t coming home at all? He would wait until half past seven at the latest. Sometimes Astel stopped somewhere on his way home. If he hadn’t shown up by then, he would have to look for him in the café in the evening, or go to his office in the morning, or perhaps find someone else to borrow the money from. He went through all his acquaintances in his mind, and seized on Vrubiczek the shoemaker. Yes, he would certainly be at home. As for the others — he doubted it.