FullReads

MR. Y.
Don’t pretend. Do you want me to believe that you haven’t dipped into that case before now?

MR. X.
[As to himself].

To think that I could make such a big mistake! But that’s the way it always is with bland people. One is fond of gentle people, and then one believes so easily that he is liked; and just on account of that I have been a little watchful of those of whom I’ve been fond. So you are fully convinced that I have helped myself from that case?

MR. Y.
Yes, I’m sure of it.

MR. X.
And you will accuse me if you do not receive the six thousand crowns?

MR. Y.
Absolutely. You can’t get out of it, so it’s not worth while trying to do so.

MR. X.
Do you think I would give my father a thief for son, my wife a thief for husband, my children a thief for father, and my confreres a thief for comrade? That shall never happen. Now I’ll go to the sheriff and give myself up.

MR. Y.
[Springs up and gets his things together].

Wait a moment.

MR. X
. What for?

MR. Y
[Stammering]. I only thought–that as I’m not needed–I wouldn’t need to be present–and could go.

MR. X.
You cannot. Sit down at your place at the table, where you’ve been sitting, and we will talk a little.

MR. Y.
[Sits, after putting on a dark coat].

What’s going to happen now?

MR. X.
[Looking into mirror].

Now everything is clear to me! Ah!

MR. Y.
[Worried].

What do you see now that’s so remarkable?

MR. X.
I see in the mirror that you are a thief, a simple, common thief. Just now, when you sat there in your shirt-sleeves, I noticed that something was wrong about my book-shelf, but I couldn’t make out what it was, as I wanted to listen to you and observe you. Now, since you have become my antagonist, my sight is keener, and since you have put on that black coat, that acts as a color contrast against the red backs of the books, which were not noticeable before against your red suspenders, I see that you have been there and read your forgery story in Bernheim’s essay on hypnotic suggestion, and returned the book upside down. So you stole that story too! In consequence of all this I consider that I have the right to conclude that you committed your crime through need, or because you were addicted to pleasures.

MR. Y.
Through need. If you knew–

MR. X.
If you knew in what need I have lived, and lived, and still live! But this is no time for that. To continue, that you have served time is almost certain, but that was in America, for it was American prison life that you described; another thing is almost as certain–that you have not served out your sentence here.

MR. Y.
How can you say that?

MR. X.
Wait until the sheriff comes and you will know.

[Mr. Y. rises.]
Do you see? The first time I mentioned the sheriff in connection with the thunderbolt, you wanted to run then, too; and when a man has been in that prison he never wants to go to the windmill hill every day to look at it, or put himself behind a window-pane to–to conclude, you have served one sentence, but not another. That’s why you were so difficult to get at.

[Pause.]

MR. Y.
[Completely defeated].