This poor creature had perceived that, thanks to his sensibility in the matter of slamming doors, a certain emotional attitude toward the Russian lady was come to subsist in her young neighbour’s mind. Further, that the grounds of the attitude were of little moment compared to the fact of its existence; and, finally, that his assumed indifference⁠—very poorly assumed, for Hans Castorp had neither talent nor training as an actor⁠—did not mean a decrease of interest, but on the contrary indicated that the affair was passing into a higher phase. Fräulein Engelhart was for her own person quite without hopes or pretensions. She therefore launched out into extravagant enthusiasm over Frau Chauchat⁠—about which quite the most extraordinary thing was that Hans Castorp saw perfectly how she was egging him on⁠—not all at once, perhaps, but in the course of time⁠—saw through it and even felt disgusted at it, yet without being the less willingly led on by her and made a fool of.