In the end she drew away, blushing hotly, and said apologetically: ‘Please forgive us, Herr Doktor. Franzl has taken leave of his senses today. But he’s a good man, I can tell you straight!’

Gurdweill stood there for a moment completely at a loss. His heart pounded. He mumbled something in a whisper, smiling a twisted smile. Then he turned his head from side to side, as if looking for something. He avoided looking at Heidelberger or his wife. In the end he remembered his cane, which he had left at the door, and went to take it.

When they parted, Heidelberger said, ‘Don’t think badly of me, Herr Doktor, and come and see us whenever you like. My home is always open to you! It’s a pity you’re in a hurry today, but I won’t try to detain you. Don’t forget, Franzl Heidelberger is your friend and brother! You’ll come again soon, won’t you?’

And Gustl chimed in: ‘Yes, yes, it will give us great pleasure.’

He promised to come soon and left. His hosts accompanied him to the passage and opened the door for him. He hurried down the stairs almost at a run. Outside, the streetlamps were already on. Gurdweill strode rapidly towards the Innere Stadt; he had arranged to meet Thea at eight o’clock and he was already a quarter of an hour late. His embarrassment gradually subsided, and he occupied his thoughts in attempting to clarify the strange scene that had just taken place. Heidelberger had for some reason attracted his interest from the first time they met, that night in the bar, and his curiosity had now increased a hundredfold. He could not find a satisfactory explanation for his host’s behaviour. He did not know if it stemmed from perversion, or if it really was a strange expression of friendship and hospitality, as practised to this day in various nationalities — or if it was both these together. The woman herself — although she was undoubtedly attractive, ‘a healthy, natural female’, who at some other time may well have aroused his appetite — had not made any impression on him. On the contrary, the contact with her lips and body had left him with a disagreeable taste, almost approaching revulsion. Nevertheless, he decided to follow the development of the episode through to the end.

7

7

Gurdweill arrived at the Herrenhof half an hour late for his appointment. In an alcove by the window, Thea was already waiting in the company of Dr Astel and Perczik. They were engaged in an animated conversation, and the minute Gurdweill entered the café he was flooded by a disagreeable feeling, as if they were conspiring against him. Perczik’s presence, above all, made him suspicious.

Dr Astel greeted him with false heartiness. ‘Hey, Gurdweill, what kind of behaviour is this? Since when do ladies have to wait for their suitors?’