A streetcar wobbled the puddles. Imagine if the ripples got bigger, I thought, imagine the whole road heaving; underneath the macadam a river surging up and clearing out Berlin; this warehouse, this junk-shop city, and in its wave would be carried all the useless people with nothing to do. I knew from school that Berlin had once been a glaciated plain until its retreat had left meltwater streams and lakes underground. If they ascended, these lakes and sunken rivers, would it be a baptism? Or an apocalypse?

‘Is Charlotte still not painting?’ Irmi said from the kitchen.

I came away from the window. ‘No.’

‘What does she do instead?’

‘I told you. Roams Berlin.’

‘Maybe she’s stuck. She’s been doing the same thing for a while. These monochrome pieces.’

‘Don’t be mean.’

‘I’m just saying she might be looking for a change in direction. Does she seem unhappy?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘Preoccupied.’

‘Have you asked her? If she’s unhappy?’

‘She says she’s fine.’

‘Well. You’ll have to take her at her word.’

The kettle shrieked and Irmi flicked off the gas. The metal teapot fogged as it warmed. It was a Bauhaus teapot – simple circles and semicircles – a Brandt design. Irmi had invested her money wisely.

‘Maybe she’s on a binge and doesn’t want to tell you.’

I looked at her, disapprovingly.

‘What? I’m just saying. Maybe that’s the secret with all this walking. Maybe she’s procuring coke in Wittenbergplatz.’

I followed her through to the living room. I knew it wasn’t a good time, but I didn’t know when I could see Irmi next without Teddy, who always stopped me talking about either Jenö or Charlotte. ‘Have you seen Jenö since the party?’

‘Oh.’ She considered what I was saying for a good while, and then said, ‘Oh,’ again. ‘Is that where you’re going with this?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You think Charlotte sees Jenö at the Bauhaus?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Have you asked her?’

I shrugged. ‘She says she walks.’

Irmi splashed the tea into the cups. ‘Maybe it’s good for her. They say it clears the mind. Don’t for God’s sake follow her.’

‘That’s not what I was intending.’

‘I know you, Paul.’

‘I just can’t help thinking—’

She raised a hand. ‘Charlotte is with you. You have a home together. You are both very much in love. Leave her to it.’

‘What if she’s seeing him? Jenö?’

‘No,’ Irmi said with some finality. ‘I won’t be your Walter in all of this. I won’t confirm your conspiracies. Jenö’s in Berlin but Charlotte’s with you. Don’t sabotage what you have. Oh, don’t look at me like that.’

‘Like what?’

‘You’ve got everything you’ve wanted. Now you have to live with it.’

‘Thanks, Irmi.’ I stood to get my coat and scarf.

‘Oh, Paul, don’t be so sensitive.’