He stood up and added a shovel of coal to the fire. The new coals choked the flame; there was a series of explosive little sounds, and wisps of dark, reddish smoke escaped from the cracks. Crouching on the floor, Gurdweill waited for the flame to leap up again. Then he returned to his chair. Now the tongue of light came out slightly slantwise, and licked the side of the couch in its dark-orange canvas cover. The outline of the couch imprinted itself on Gurdweill’s senses, and by an unconscious process of association a feeling of mild tiredness stirred inside him. But he did not give way to the desire to lie down that suddenly overcame him. No! He would wait a little longer, and then he would make his bed and go to sleep early. He did not feel like going out again tonight.

In the corridor a door opened and shut. Had someone come in or gone out, he wondered. If someone had gone out, he did not envy him. Although it was not very cold outside, he felt a particular pleasure in staying at home this evening. Yes, he remembered, Lotte was looking worse from day to day. While he was still sick in bed, she had seemed to be looking better, but the truth was that she was looking bad. Apart from which, she had grown very quiet, which was not like her at all. Or sometimes she broke out unexpectedly in exaggerated fits of high spirits, which were not natural either. If only he could help her …

For a while his thoughts went on weaving around Lotte, and in the end he fell asleep. When he woke up, the coals were hissing and the fire had lost some of its heat. Gurdweill shivered slightly. He threw more coals on the fire and then lit a match and looked at his watch. He must have slept for a long time — it was nearly ten o’clock. His head felt heavy, and there was a pain in his right side and his neck, presumably from sleeping in an uncomfortable posture in the chair. He began walking up and down to stretch his muscles. In the next room all was quiet. They must already have gone to sleep, the old woman and Siedl. He saw no need to light the lamp: there was a faint light from the windows, enough to make out the outlines of the furniture.

The door opened and Thea came in. She was home earlier than usual. She saw her husband sitting in the dark, and was immediately filled with rage.

‘Why don’t you put on the light, you idiot!’ she cried, even before she shut the door behind her.