‘As far as epilepsy goes, it does exist in dogs, but unfortunately it’s pretty hard to diagnose. However, it often runs in families. Do you know whether there’s any history of epilepsy in Hercules’s family?’

Caroline shrugs her shoulders. ‘No, sorry. I got Hercules at the animal shelter. I don’t know anything at all about his family, but he supposedly comes from a very reputable breeder. The only thing is that he’s not pedigreed, so they gave him up.’

Dr Wagner looks at me thoughtfully. ‘Hmm, reputable breeder…I have to say I had the feeling right from the start that I’d seen Hercules somewhere before. Must have been a dachshund breeder, and I know nearly all of them. Maybe it was at the old von Eschersbach’s place?’

VON ESCHERSBACH! The very mention of his name almost knocks me off the table. I jump up and start barking loudly. Exactly! It’s me! A true von Eschersbach! A real good one!

‘Easy there!’ Wagner says, while gently placing me back in the middle of the table. ‘You clearly know this name very well, little chap. I would say: Bingo!’

What Bingo has to do with any of this is a mystery to me, but for the first time since we met, I almost like Dr Wagner. Finally, a person who recognizes my true origins.

‘My father looked after the von Eschersbach breeders. I was there just a few times myself, and the dogs are quite healthy, thank God. But I can ask von Eschersbach whether he’s had any problems with epilepsy in his dogs. Diagnosing it can be very time-consuming and expensive, so we ought to have a more concrete suspicion first. Maybe the seizures are caused by something altogether different. Give me a very specific description of what the attacks are like.’

‘Well, I can’t give you any specifics, because I was never there when they came on.’

‘Hmm.’ Dr Wagner looks over questioningly at Daniel.

He shakes his head. ‘Neither was I, I’m afraid.’

‘Then how do you know that Hercules had seizures?’

‘This will sound a little strange, but in the past five days two people have told us about these attacks. The first time, someone brought Hercules home from the park to us and filled us in on what he’d seen, then it happened again: a man approached us in the park and claimed that Hercules had gone into convulsions and howled in front of him, and that he was foaming at the mouth. The man was even afraid it could be rabies, because Hercules was suddenly so clingy around him.’

Dr Wagner laughs. ‘Well, it’s certainly not rabies. Once it reaches the convulsion stage, the animal is already close to death. Also, I can’t recall a single case of rabies in dogs in Germany in my career as a vet. But you’re right that it’s odd.’ He turns back to me and strokes me under my chin. ‘Hmm, so you’re clingy and strange? Did Hercules have anything traumatic happen to him lately that might have really rattled him? I’m not an animal psychologist, but something like that can have a negative effect on an animal’s behaviour. You told me he came from the animal shelter. Separation anxiety, perhaps? Have you ever accidentally locked him out or something of that sort?’