Gustl chimed in. ‘My gentry were also always reading. The mistress would lie on the sofa and read, and the master would often read too. Once, I peeped into one of their books, and it was about this girl, and how this elegant young man seduced her, and dishonoured her’ — Gustl was now speaking in the refined language she had picked up from her ‘gentry’ or, perhaps, from the book she had read — ‘and afterwards abandoned her for another woman. And so she was sick at heart and wouldn’t be consoled, and she was pregnant by him too. And then this other woman came and wanted to give her money, a great deal of money, but she refused to take it. Because she said, “Your husband or nothing!” In those very words. She gave it to her good and proper! She was a proud one, make no mistake! And then it came close to her confinement and she was very desperate and she went and bought a pistol and waited in the night for her seducer and shot him three times until he fell dead. And then she ran and threw herself into the Danube. It was a good book. Very sad. It made me cry my eyes out.’

‘Stuff and nonsense!’ pronounced Heidelberger. ‘What does a woman understand? What’s interesting about all that rigmarole?’ And to Gurdweill: ‘You see, Herr Doktor? You see what a load of rubbish it all is! What’s it got to do with anything, I ask you? Only fools can write stuff like that, for fools like them to read. Now aren’t I right?’

‘One can’t generalise,’ said Gurdweill evasively. ‘There are better books too. And the main thing is: as long as there are people who enjoy reading them, books should be written. And if there are some people who don’t find them interesting, that’s no proof that books in general are worthless. Just like a healthy man with two good legs, for example, can’t see the need for crutches, although a legless man would be lost without them. That’s the way it always is. People are different both physically and emotionally, and the same goes for their needs: each according to his own nature.’

‘Quite right! Herr Gurdweill has spoken very wisely, and you can’t possibly disagree!’ exclaimed Gustl enthusiastically.

Gurdweill got up to go. ‘Well, I’ll have to run along now.’

‘What’s your hurry?’ protested his host. ‘Stay a little longer! Since you’re already here …’

‘Yes, Herr Gurdweill, do stay,’ Gustl joined in.

But Gurdweill was firm. Suddenly he felt restless and wanted to get back home as soon as possible. In his heart of hearts he was certain that Thea was waiting for him there. He was sure of it because he wanted it to be true with all his heart and soul, and nothing in the world could have detained him a moment longer.