Chapter 6 Summary

Hans is not present when Clavdia Chauchat leaves by carriage, but they have exchanged X-ray plates as tokens. Is Hans merely the "sweet bourgeois with a little damp spot" on his lungs, as Clavdia mockingly called him on Walpurgis Night? Or is he what Settembrini calls him, "life's problem child"? His fever has indeed gone up as Clavdia said it would, and Behrens now gives him injections twice a week to bring it down. Hans still tries to ascertain whether Behrens had a relationship with Clavdia that went beyond the medical. During one session, Behrens urges Hans to restrain Joachim's impatience to return to his military career, but Hans protests that it's not easy when he sees examples of unauthorized departures every day.

After weeks of silence, Settembrini finally greets Hans, and asks him how he liked the pomegranate - referring to the...