There was a sunbeam lying across the cot, and Gurdweill found himself thinking that it was a good thing, at least, that the sun was not beating directly onto his face and disturbing his sleep … Here and there a baby cried, and Gurdweill absorbed the sound unthinkingly. He stood quite still with his eyes fixed on the sleeping Martin. He seemed to have forgotten where he was, and that he had only been allowed in for a moment. Then the nurse told him that he had to leave now, and he came to his senses and walked out of the hospital.

Outside, he remembered that he should have straightened the blanket and covered the baby, since he was sure that he was not properly covered … And this thought caused him considerable distress, as if the entire fate of his son depended on it. He stood still and wondered whether he should go back and fix the blanket. He was sure the nurse would let him in again; he would plead with her until she let him in. And precisely because he knew how ridiculous this wish was, and how impossible to realise, his longing increased until he would have given his life to be allowed to go in again and straighten the blanket. In the end, however, he continued on his way. If only his hand had not been clenched like that, at least! True, babies often clenched their fists, but still … And if it was clenched, why did it have to be so close to his mouth, the way it had been there? ‘Nonsense!’ he scolded himself. ‘A dream’s only a dream! How can you take it so seriously?’ But Thea was late! What of it — he tried to defend her to himself — perhaps she had been held up. She was probably on her way right now and would be arriving at any minute. Perhaps she had had to wait a long time for a tram. That was what always happened in Vienna: whenever you were in a hurry to get somewhere, there was never a tram in sight. And not only in Vienna, it was the same all over the world … He felt a surge of rage at the trams for being against him. But he consoled himself with the thought that Martin was sleeping soundly now and Thea would have plenty of time to get there before he woke up.