A novel written in the early 20th century. It appears to be a psychological and social study set in Vienna, following the delicate young scientist Manfred Dalcroze, his steadfast beloved Virginia, and his brilliant, wealthy friend Erwin Reiner, whose charisma and restlessness unsettle their bond. The book probes friendship, desire, class, and the deceptive “masks” people wear. The opening of the novel follows Manfred, ordered to spend two years at sea to heal his lungs, as he secures a berth on a deep-sea expedition and asks his admired friend Erwin to watch over Virginia in his absence. We see Manfred’s earnest love, Virginia’s cautious integrity, and the couple’s modest circumstances, set against Erwin’s opulent, disciplined, and worldlier life. A private confession from Virginia’s mother reveals Virginia’s illegitimate birth, deepening Manfred’s tenderness and anxiety. Before departure, Manfred shows Erwin Virginia’s photograph; Erwin is struck, and promises solemnly to protect her. After a restrained first meeting, Manfred leaves by train, and Erwin tactfully steps in—offering Virginia a ride, visiting regularly, and channeling her faltering art studies into a serious school, then guiding her through galleries and a fashionable exhibition. Virginia is both drawn and unsettled by Erwin’s magnetic presence and blunt cynicism about society and love, while he hints at jealousy over Manfred’s devotion. The excerpt closes with Erwin confiding how Manfred became his true friend and how that bond shapes his stance toward Virginia.
