In contrast to the simple version that they presented to him, all of a sudden he found himself thinking about the problematic, ambiguous aspect of Basini’s offence. He said to himself with a shake of the head that further thought on the subject was required, although he could give no precise reason why that should be so ...

The strangest thing occurred when he pursued the matter more in daydreams than in reflection. It was then that Basini struck him as comprehensible and ordinary, clearly outlined, the way his parents and friends saw him: and a moment later he vanished and returned again and again as a tiny figure that sometimes gleamed against a deep, very deep background ...

 

Then one night — it was very late and everyone was asleep — Törless was shaken awake.

Beineberg was sitting on the edge of his bed. This was so unusual that Törless immediately sensed that something extraordinary must be happening.

‘Get up. But don’t make a sound, in case anybody notices; we’re about to go upstairs, I’ve got something to tell you.’

Törless quickly dressed, threw on his coat and slipped into his slippers ...

Upstairs, Beineberg took particular care in reassembling all the obstacles, and then prepared some tea.

Törless, his limbs still filled with sleep, contentedly allowed the golden, scented warmth to flow through him. He leaned back in a corner and huddled up; he was waiting for a surprise.

Finally Beineberg said, ‘Reiting’s going behind our backs.’

Törless wasn’t at all surprised; he accepted, as though it was something quite natural, that matters would continue along these lines; he felt almost as though he had merely been waiting for this to happen. Quite involuntarily he said, ‘I thought so!’

‘Really? You thought so? But surely you can’t have noticed anything? That wouldn’t be at all like you.’

‘Certainly, nothing’s struck me; and I haven’t given it another thought.’

‘I’ve been paying attention, though; I haven’t trusted Reiting from the first moment. You know that Basini gave me my money back. And where do you think he got it? Do you think it was his own? No ...’

‘And you think Reiting might have had a hand in it?’

‘I’m sure of it.’

At first Törless could only imagine that Reiting must have got himself involved in something similar.

‘So you think that Reiting’s been doing what Basini -?’

‘The very idea! He took what was necessary from his own money, so that Basini could pay off his debt to me.’

‘I can’t see any good reason for that.’

‘I couldn’t either, for a long time. But you too must have noticed the way Reiting was so firmly on Basini’s side from the very start. You were absolutely right; it would really have been the most natural thing in the world for the fellow to be expelled. But I deliberately didn’t side with you then because I thought to myself: I’ve got to see what else is going on. I don’t really know whether he had any clear intentions then, or whether he just wanted to wait until he was sure of Basini once and for all. Anyway, now I know what’s happening.’

‘And?’

‘Hang on, it’ll take a moment to tell you. You know that business in the school four years ago?’

‘What business?’

‘You know, that business!’

‘Only vaguely. I just know that there was a big scandal about some beastliness or other, and that a lot of people were thrown out on account of it.’

‘That’s the one. When I was on holiday I found out more about it from someone who was there. There was a pretty boy in the class and lots of the other boys were in love with him. You’ll know about that, it happens in every year. But on this occasion they took it too far.’

‘How come?’

‘Well... because ... ? Don’t ask such stupid questions! And that’s what Reiting’s doing with Basini!’

Törless immediately understood what was going on, and he felt himself choking as though his throat was full of sand.

‘I wouldn’t have thought that of Reiting.’ It was the best thing he could come up with. Beineberg shrugged his shoulders.

‘He thinks he can go behind our backs.’

‘Is he in love?’

‘Not a trace of it. He’s not that much of a fool. It entertains him, or at least it gives him sensual stimulation.’

‘And Basini?’

‘Basini? ... Haven’t you noticed how cheeky he’s been getting lately? He’s hardly let me say a word to him. It’s always been Reiting this, Reiting that — as if he was his personal guardian angel. He’s probably thought it’s better to put up with everything from one person than a little from everybody. And Reiting has probably promised to protect him if he agrees to everything. But I think they’ve made a mistake, and I’m going to get Basini to spill the beans!’

‘How did you find all this out?’

‘I followed them once.’

‘Where?’

‘Just next door, in the attic.