So, who cares about that? I certainly don’t. I certainly hope that Caroline gets rid of this conceited bore soon. OK, I admit that I’m not exactly an innocent bystander in his being here, but the essential purpose of Wagner’s visit has now been fulfilled: Jens is out of the picture for this evening, so Wagner is just in the way. He should drink up his glass and head back to his basket – figuratively speaking, of course. Caroline is bound to be trying to work out how she can get him out of the apartment as pleasantly as possible.

‘I think it’s great that you followed your inner voice. People should do that more often. Speaking of more – would you like another glass of wine?’

I must have heard wrong – more wine? But apparently, Wagner is not getting on Caroline’s nerves as much as he is on mine. It can’t be explained away as pure politeness any more. Does she actually find his stories exciting?

Caroline fills both glasses again, then sits down next to Wagner. ‘I live over my workshop too. Nina always claims it would get on her nerves if she lived and worked under one roof, but I find it ideal.’

Wagner nods. ‘Yes, that’s how I feel too. How did you come up with the idea of a workshop? It’s not exactly a run-of-the-mill job. Or is that a family business as well?’

Caroline shakes her head. ‘No, not in the slightest. My father is a lawyer, and my mother a housewife. But even when I was still at school, I knew I wanted to become a violin maker. You know, I love music, I’ve played a lot of violin myself, and I wanted to do something with my hands. Then I did an internship in a violinmaking workshop and realized: this is it!’

Caroline is positively beaming, and Wagner is studying her. What am I saying – he’s looking at her the way a fox might eye a goose! Surely he’s not thinking of making a pass at my – or Daniel’s – Caroline!

He clears his throat. ‘That gives me an idea. Would you like to go to a concert with me next week? I have two tickets for the concert hall and no one to go with.’

Caroline hesitates. Of course it’s not easy to give the brush-off to the guy who rescues your dog.

‘Well, I, uh…’

Come on, spit it out, Caroline! It’s time for us to get rid of this guy.

‘I’d love to!’

chapter seventeen

‘Kiddo, you can’t rush something like this. Forget it.’

I admit that doesn’t sound as though he agrees with me, but I’m not going to lose heart that fast. After all, I would not be Carl-Leopold von Eschersbach if some insipid remark by an old cat were to throw me off my game. We’re sitting back at our favourite spot under the tree and I’ve just given Beck a quick update on the twists and turns of the past three days on the subject of Caroline and men.