The Stronger Sex by Hans Werner Kettenbach Read Free Book Online Page A

he’s the artist,” she said.
    I was on the point of asking Frauke why on earth I should be supposed to know who Willy Ferber was when Frau Novotna came over to us. Frauke seemed to have no intention of introducing me, but Cilly Klofft instantly filled the gap, giving the gallery owner my full name, my title of doctor and my profession.

    Frau Novotna examined me with the winning smile of a businesswoman, then turned to Frau Klofft and asked if she could have a word with her later. Frau Klofft said yes, of course, and why not now – unless Dr Zabel, and she smiled at me as she spoke, had to leave very soon? I said no, no, I could stay a little longer.
    When the two of them had gone off into a corner together, Frauke said, “As you’re going to stay a little longer, I expect I can go and talk to Willy Ferber. I assume you won’t be interested in meeting him yourself?”
    I said, “I wouldn’t want to disturb your professional conversation. Look, can you tell me what’s got into you?”
    Widening her eyes, she glanced sideways as if to make sure I had meant her, and was not addressing someone else. “Me? What do you mean, what’s got into me?”
    â€œAre you by any chance jealous of Frau Klofft?”
    After a kind of moment of shock, which she clearly expressed by letting her mouth drop open, she uttered rather a loud laugh. A few people standing near us glanced our way. She leaned slightly toward me and asked, with emphasis, “Cilly Klofft? Are you serious?”
    â€œYes, of course. That’s how you’re acting, anyway.”
    â€œWell, really!” She straightened up and looked at me with a searching smile. “I’d think you capable of a good deal, my dear, but so far I really never would have imagined you losing your head over venerable antiquities.”
    I felt the blood rise to my face. “What does that tasteless remark mean? Frau Klofft may be a lot of things but she’s certainly not a… a Roman ruin.”
    â€œInteresting! You seem to have looked at her very closely!” She appeared to be wondering whether to add some other cutting expression, but perhaps she couldn’t think of one on the spot, or perhaps she simply decided against it. Anyway, she said briefly, “Excuse me, please,” turned away and went over to the people clustering round
Willy Ferber. The circle took her in, and Ferber shook hands with her.
    I was furious and taken aback at the same time. Was she seriously suggesting I’d been sleeping with Cilly Klofft? And if so, what for Heaven’s sake had put that way-out idea into her head? Why, moreover, if she thought such a thing possible, did she make such an unpleasant remark about Cilly Klofft’s age?
    I was already thinking of leaving this occasion, where I really had no business anyway, as soon as possible. I pushed up the sleeve of my jacket and looked at my watch. Just after eight-thirty. When I looked up, I met Cilly Klofft’s eye; she was standing with Frau Novotna, who was still speaking to her over in the corner, gesticulating with both hands, and when I looked at her she raised her brows and moved her forefinger back and forth. The gesture was unmistakable; she didn’t want me to go yet.
    Oh well. She wouldn’t have any further instructions to give me, so she could only have meant it as a joke, but why shouldn’t I stay a little longer and talk to her when Frau Novotna let her out of her clutches?
    I took a Pils from the tray that a little blonde offered me, and when a thin black-haired girl appeared behind the blonde with a plate of cocktail sausages, I helped myself. I put two straight into my mouth, and as the brunette was about to move on I said, “Just a moment, please!” and speared another on one of the cocktail sticks. I could presumably write off any idea of dinner with Frauke. And I didn’t feel in the least like munching my way through a