"By Jove!" cried George. "A piece of cheek, you think, what? But it's still a long time before the middle of November. And the strange thing is I've got the feeling as though I had learnt something fresh in the very six weeks of this summer when I didn't have the thing in my hand at all. It's as though my arm had got new ideas in the meanwhile. I can't explain it properly." "I follow what you mean." Felician held the sword stretched out in front of him and looked at it affectionately. He then said: "Ralph inquired after you, so did Guido ... a pity you weren't there." "You spent the whole day with them?" "Oh no, I remained at home after dinner. You must have gone out straight away. I've been studying." "Studying?" "Yes, I must really do something serious now. I want to pass my Diplomatic exam, by May at the outside." "So you've quite made up your mind?" "Absolutely. There's no point in my remaining on any more in the Stadthalterei. The longer I stay there the clearer it becomes. Anyway, the time won't have been wasted. They don't mind at all if one has spent a year or two in Home Service." "So you'll probably be leaving Vienna in the autumn." "Presumably." "And where will they send you?" "If one only knew." George looked in front of him. "So the parting is as near as that?" But why did it affect him so much all of a sudden?... Why, he himself had determined to go away, and had quite recently spoken to his brother about his plans for next year. Was he still as sceptical as ever of his seriousness? If only they could have a good frank brotherly heart-to-heart talk as they had had on that evening after their father's funeral. As a matter of fact, it was only when life revealed its gloomy side to them that they felt absolutely in touch. Otherwise there was always this strange constraint between them both. There was obviously no help for it. They just had to talk more or less discreetly to each other like fairly intimate friends. And as though resigned to the situation George went on with his questions. "What did you do in the evening?" "I had supper with Guido and an interesting young lady." "Really?" "He's in silken dalliance again, you know." "Who is it, then?" "Conservatoire, Jewess, violin. But she didn't bring it with her. Not particularly pretty, but clever. She improves him and he respects her; he wants her to be baptised. A humorous affair I can tell you. You would have had quite a good time." George turned his eyes towards the sword which Felician still held in his hand. "Would you like to fence a bit?" he asked. "Why not?" answered Felician and fetched a second foil out of his room. Meanwhile George had moved the big table in the middle up against the wall. "I haven't had a thing in my hand since May," he said as he took hold of his sword. They took off their coats and crossed blades. George cried _touché_ the next second.