Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

two of us."
Tiflis
1898
Tiflis and the Kura from Mt. Mtatsminda, 1890s (Ermakov/RWFG)
Leist’s apartment was a simple but comfortable place on the second floor of a wooden
house high above town on the slopes of Mount St. David. It had two rooms, a large kitchen, a
spacious balcony, and an outhouse, but no bath.
"Oh, one doesn’t need that," said Leist with a dismissive sweep of his hand. "I will
introduce you to the Turkish bath, it is much preferable to a zinc tub of hot water in the kitchen!"
Next day Leist took Konrad to meet the professors at the Gymnasium. Konrad’s new
colleagues were very relaxed. They discussed his courses with him for an hour. He would give
an introduction to chemistry and an upper-division seminar devoted to the botany of the
Caucasian flora, eight hours a week. He had taught these courses before in St. Petersburg,
and his students would be more docile than in the restless capital. There was no rush, the
semester and his teaching duties wouldn’t begin for two weeks, until then he should take it
easy and acquaint himself with the colorful life of Tiflis.
However, the arrival of their new colleague from Berlin called for a celebration. The
good professors decided to have a grand feast in Ortachala without their women. To their
amusement, Leist wagged a finger at Konrad and smiled mysteriously. "This will be your
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