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Updated: May 31, 2025
To draw the attention of all Komorn to the fact that Susanna, a good Calvinist, was keeping the day of the Greek saint Timéa, and the more because she only sent out her invitations the same morning! It was an outrageous breach of etiquette. Herr Katschuka felt that this time he must accept. In the evening he took care not to be among the earliest arrivals.
The house to which he was to have taken her on their marriage-day was very different, but it had been taken possession of by the creditors with all its contents on that very morning. She had only looked in at the window when she walked with her mother on the Promenade in the afternoon to hear the band play. Herr Katschuka started up in alarm.
The mistress of the house was horrified, for she had only slippers on, and her apron full of maize. Which should she hide first? But Timéa was more frightened, though she had nothing to hide. "Excuse me," said Katschuka, with familiar ease; "I found the doors all shut on the other side, so I came round by the kitchen." "You see," screeched Frau Sophie, "my daughter has gone to visit her friends.
Athalie crooked her fingers like eagles' claws, and her teeth shone clinched between her red lips. It was as if she would tear the girl in pieces. Then her unbridled rage suddenly turned into scornful laughter. She left Timéa and went to her room. Herr Katschuka paid another visit the same evening. At table Athalie overwhelmed Timéa with unwonted kindness.
At his acquittal Herr Katschuka was the first who hastened to congratulate him, and shook his hand demonstratively in public. "My friend, you must not put up with this quietly; you must have satisfaction for it. Just fancy, they suspected me of being bribed! Go to Vienna and demand reparation; the informer must have an exemplary punishment.
She coiled the plait simply into a knot, and wound it round her head as he had suggested. The mistress laughed to herself: this child has been made a fool of certainly! While Timéa was plaiting her hair, Sophie came nearer and tried to wheedle her again. "Let me tell you more about the wedding. Where did that stupid Katschuka interrupt us? If he had only known what we were talking about!
He robbed his friend Katschuka of the hope of a blissful life. The respect shown to him by the world, the tears of the poor, the thanks of the orphan, the decorations bestowed by his king, were they not all thefts? By deceit he obtained from the smugglers, the fidelity with which they guarded his secret a thief who steals from other thieves! He even robbed the good God of a little angel.
The old furniture had long been replaced by new; only one embroidered stool remained as a remembrance. Athalie was sitting on it when Timar entered, in company with the pale maiden. There sat Katschuka, at work on Athalie's portrait, over which, while he gazed at Timéa, his pencil drew a long line. Athalie sat alone there now.
When the major had gone, and looked up from the street at the windows of the Levetinczy house, all was dark. He was the last to leave. Timéa learned gradually the art of growing used to hope and happiness she had a good teacher. Thenceforward, Herr Katschuka came every day to the house; but the major did not keep to the prescribed arithmetical progression first one minute, then two.
The poor child's head swam with all the congratulations. She listened for Herr Katschuka, and ran away when she saw him coming. Did he know what was going on? Quite possibly. Did it vex him? Perhaps it did not even vex him. Very likely he knew things of which the laughers did not dream, and awaited the important day with perfect indifference.
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