He proceeded to turn the key in his watch. He went on just as before. Gently ticking time was again meaningless to him: work and compromise, that was all. And as he looked up into the mirror, his face stared at him, tired and old.
CHAPTER IX
The Inner Town was preparing to celebrate the centenary of the chemist’s shop at the sign of the Holy Trinity. The invitations were extended to distinguished members of neighbouring parishes.
A crowd gathered in front of the house of Müller, the chemist in Servites’ Square, to get a glimpse of the arriving carriages. Through the house a faint smell of drugs was noticeable. The stairs were covered with a carpet. This put the guests into a festive mood. Under the influence of the carpet Gál the wine merchant and his wife, who lived on very bad terms with each other, went arm in arm up the stairs.
Just then Ulwing’s carriage stopped at the entrance. At the door the chemist received his guests with many bows.
In the drawing-room new-fashioned paraffin lamps stood on the mantelpiece in front of the mirror. The room was packed with many crinolines. The guests’ faces were flushed. They spoke to each other in low voices, solemnly.
The wife of the mayor diffused a strong perfume of lavender round the sofa. Sztaviarsky’s worn-out wig appeared green in the light of the lamps.
The Hosszu family arrived. Sophie had become thin and wore a dress three years old. Christopher recognised the dress. He did not know why but he became sad. With an effort he turned his head away. He did not look at Sophie, he only felt her presence, and even that filled him with delight.
The three Miss Münsters walked in through the door in order of size. They were fat and pale. Broad blue ribbons floated from the bonnet of Mrs. George Martin Münster. The last to come were the family of Walter the wholesale linen-merchant. Silence fell over the company. The beautiful Mrs. Walter was usually not invited to anything but informal parties because the linen-merchant had raised her from the stage to his respectable middle-class home. She had once been a singer in the German theatre and this was not yet forgotten.
During dinner young Adam Walter was Anne’s neighbour. The crowded dining-room was heavy with the smell of food. In the centre of the table stood the traditional croque-en-bouche cake.