‘Yes, he seems a healthy baby. He looks exactly like Thea, her nose, her hair … And are you going to be busy with him all the time from now on? Until he grows up?’

‘Not all the time. Sometimes he spends a few days at my father-in-law’s house. Then I’ve got more time to myself, naturally. You know, my brother-in-law Freddy’s planning to go abroad soon, for a long time … You know him, don’t you? No? Well, it doesn’t matter.’

‘Who cares? Will it make any difference to the world if your brother-in-law goes abroad or not?’

‘No, you’re right, it’s not in the least important … I just mentioned it …’

And a moment later: ‘And how are you, my dear? Did you recover your strength in the Tyrol?’

‘There was nothing wrong with me in the first place, as far as I know!’

‘No, no, of course not! But your nerves were a little upset. The city has a detrimental effect on sensitive people.’

‘My nerves aren’t in the least upset!’ Lotte flared up inexplicably. ‘They never were and they aren’t now! You had better worry about your own nerves!’

Gurdweill suddenly knew that whatever he said to Lotte this evening would make no sense and would only annoy her, and that nevertheless he would not be able to stop himself. This inner certainty gave rise in him to an exaggerated excitement and an uncontrollable desire to say everything he had to say immediately, and get it over with. At the same time, he was suddenly flooded by a feeling of immense fatigue, as if in anticipation of imminent corporal punishment.

As always when he was upset, he began to search for cigarettes, pushing his hand unthinkingly into the same pocket again and again. He found nothing, although he was sure that he still had several left. Lotte opened her purse and offered him a cigarette. He took it, and even before lighting it he heard himself say: ‘Well, and what about Dr Astel? You said you were going to marry him in the autumn, didn’t you?’ He felt a certain relief.

Lotte stared at him in astonishment without replying. After a moment she said, ‘What on earth has it got to do with you? You’re not very polite, I must say! I never knew you so ill bred!’ And she added: ‘I’ll marry him when I feel like it! And perhaps I’ll never marry him at all! Haven’t you got anything else to worry about?’

‘All I want is to see you happy.’ He took hold of her hand. ‘You have no idea how dear you are to me and how important your happiness is to me!’