"No. Of course the excitement of the last weeks is bound to have had some effect upon her."
George mentioned that he had written a few words to her and also to Leo immediately after the duel. "When one thinks that it might have turned out differently ..." he added.
Doctor Stauber looked in front of him. "Having children," he said, "is a happiness which one pays for by instalments."
At the door George began somewhat hesitatingly: "I also wanted ... to inquire of you, Herr Doctor, about the real state of Herr Rosner's health.... I must say I found him looking better than I had expected from Anna's letters."
"I hope that he will get all right again," replied Stauber. "But of course one must remember that he's an old man. He's even old for his years."
"But it's not a case of anything serious?"
"Old age is a serious business in itself," replied Doctor Stauber, "especially as his whole antecedent life, his youth and manhood, were not particularly cheerful."
George, whose eyes had been roving round the room, suddenly exclaimed: "I've just thought of it, Herr Doctor. I've never sent you back the books you were good enough to lend me in the spring. And now I'm afraid all our things are at the depository, silver, furniture, pictures and the books as well. So I must ask you, Herr Doctor, to have patience till the spring."
"If you have no worse troubles than that, my dear Baron...."
They went slowly down the stairs and Doctor Stauber inquired after Felician.