Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

know in medicine of when these days are. From my experience it seems to be a week after my
period. It requires intelligence, long observations of oneself, and a cooperative husband. This
method is useless with people who cannot read and write."
Mrs. Dahl nodded. "Still these methods seem preferable compared to illegal abortions
under unhygienic conditions."
Alexandra disagreed. "Most abortive herbal concoctions have very unpleasant side
effects. I plan to use the library of this enlightened university to make a systematic study of the
contraceptive knowledge of the ancients like Dioskorides and Soranus. In St. Petersburg books
of these authors are locked up. In addition I do have another problem. My Greek is very
limited."
"Oh," exclaimed Claudia, "there I can help, thanks to our Bavarian gymnasium my
Greek is good enough!"
Alexandra smiled. How unexpected to find a collaborator in Claudia!
"Konrad, have you ever seen a house that completely and perfectly describes the
character of its owner?" exclaimed Alexandra next day.
He thought for a moment. "Yes, Giulietta Malatesta’s mausoleum in Rimini! But are you
talking about the Dahl’s house? I am sure it is not a mausoleum!"
Alexandra had to laugh. "Well, at first sight you could almost think it was. When you face
it, it appears as forbidding as a castle. And then you enter and you find yourself in large,
perfectly beautiful, open spaces flooded by light. I had the feeling I was floating on light in their
uncluttered living room. But the surprise is that this perfectly describes Mrs. Dahl’s personality.
Can you imagine her?"
"I have never seen such a case, but I see the ‘forever elegantly underdressed Dadiani’
in your description. Have you found your match? Do you like Mrs. Dahl? You were less than
enamored with her beautiful daughter?"
"Oh, you miserable German Sufi, always pointing out the negative sides of the world.
Yes, I like Mrs. Dahl. I have also found a serious collaborator in my search for Dioskorides’
contraceptive knowledge, believe it or not, in Claudia. She reads Greek, and we have decided
to do this research together."
Konrad smiled patronizingly. "Your reprimand two weeks ago must have impressed her.
Watch out that you two don’t get blacklisted by the Catholic Church when you publish that
paper."
Konrad, searching for news from Russia sat reading the newspaper at his favorite café.
The coverage by the German papers of events in St. Petersburg was spotty at best. This café
kept a rack of several papers on long yardsticks for their guests. He was waiting for Katharina.
Café Arzmiller occupied a corner of a quiet courtyard off Theatiner Strasse across from
the Feldherren Halle. If he bent sideways he could see past the umbrella over his table the
baroque towers of the Theatiner Church. His office at the university was around the corner only
a few steps away.
Katharina was late, his coffee getting cold. During the past month, since Alexandra’s
arrival, they had met here often. He shook his head. He had reported to Alexandra every one
of his meetings with Katharina, and she had not shown any signs of anxiety. He was proud of
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