‘Of course. The prime minister’s petty-cash box.’

Marianne’s eyes narrowed. ‘You know, you ask a lot of questions. What are you, a bull or something like that?’

I got out of bed and slipped into my dressing-gown. I said: ‘Something like that.’

‘Are you working on a case here?’ Her eyes widened with excitement. ‘Something Kindermann could be involved in?’

I opened the window and leant out for a moment. The morning air was good to breathe, even the stuff coming up from the kitchens. But a cigarette was better. I brought my last packet in from the window ledge and lit one. Marianne’s eyes lingered disapprovingly on the cigarette in my hand.

‘You shouldn’t be smoking, you know.’

‘I don’t know if Kindermann is involved or not,’ I said. ‘That’s what I was hoping to find out when I came here.’

‘Well, you don’t have to worry about me,’ she said fiercely. ‘I couldn’t care what happens to him.’ She stood up with her arms folded, her mouth assuming a harder expression. ‘The man is a bastard. You know, just a few weeks ago I worked a whole weekend because nobody else was available. He said he’d pay me double-time in cash. But he still hasn’t given me my money. That’s the kind of pig he is. I bought a dress. It was stupid of me, I should have waited. Well, now I’m behind with the rent.’

I was debating with myself whether or not she was trying to sell me a story when I saw the tears in her eyes. If it was an act it was a damn good one. Either way it deserved some kind of recognition.

She blew her nose, and said: ‘Would you give me a cigarette, please?’

‘Sure.’ I handed her the pack and then thumbed a match.

‘You know, Kindermann knew Freud,’ she said, coughing a little with her first smoke. ‘At the Vienna Medical School, when he was a student. After graduating he worked for a while at the Salzburg Mental Asylum. He’s from Salzburg originally. When his uncle died in 1930, he left him this house, and he decided to turn it into a clinic.’

‘It sounds like you know him quite well.’

‘Last summer his secretary was sick for a couple of weeks. Kindermann knew I had some secretarial experience and asked me to fill in a while while Tarja was away. I got to know him reasonably well. Well enough to dislike him. I’m not going to stay here much longer. I’ve had enough, I think. Believe me, there are plenty of others here who feel much the same way.’

‘Oh? Think anyone would want to get back at him? Anyone who might have a grudge against him?’

‘You’re talking about a serious grudge, aren’t you? Not just a bit of unpaid overtime.’