And Gustl chimed in: ‘Very well! We were already wondering why we never see you, Herr Gurdweill.’

‘Yes indeed,’ Heidelberger said, taking over, ‘I’ve already remarked on it to Gustl several times. Gustl, I say, whatever’s happened to Herr Gurdweill to make him forget his friends? Could it be that we insulted him, I say, that we didn’t treat him with the respect he deserves? And now you must come up and visit us. Now that I’ve caught you, you won’t get away so easily!’

Gurdweill tried to make excuses, but Heidelberger insisted.

‘No, no, Herr Gurdweill, nothing will help you. You’re completely at our disposal now. No excuses!’

‘Of course, of course, Herr Gurdweill!’ his wife joined in. ‘Surely you won’t deprive us of the honour.’

‘Hold your tongue, Gustl!’ Heidelberger quickly put her in her place. ‘Nobody asked for your opinion!’

Turning to Gurdweill, he said in a tone that brooked no refusal, ‘And now, my friend, you’re coming home with us!’ He added with a sly wink, which Gurdweill did not notice: ‘You go up first with Gustl. I’ll join you right away. I’ll just drop into the café for a minute, and I’ll be with you in a jiffy.’

Gurdweill accordingly set off with Gustl, who seemed highly satisfied with this turn of events. She relaxed immediately and became freer in her movements and speech. She chattered away, laughing all the time, and told him that they were on their way home from a visit to her uncle who lived nearby. She had mentioned Herr Gurdweill only yesterday. You might even say that she had missed him. A few days before she had even dreamed about him, ha-ha-ha! Herr Gurdweill had deprived them of the pleasure of his company — it really wasn’t nice of him. And she gave her escort a warm, inviting look.

They soon reached the house, which was not far off, and climbed the stairs with Gustl leading the way. Gurdweill decided to accept the situation and make the best of it, despite his earlier disinclination for company.

After his first visit to their house he had never been there again. Once, he had met the two of them by chance in town and stood talking to them for half an hour, and another time he had met Heidelberger alone and gone to a tavern with him for a glass of beer. And once, after visiting Vrubiczek, he had knocked on their door without getting a reply. Gustl’s looks had improved over the past six months: her face was tanned and also somewhat thinner, which suited her better.

She opened the door and ushered him into the same scrupulously clean room as on his previous visit.