* * *
"No, since poor Camilla lost her life in that dreadful manner, we have
not seen anything of him!"
"Yes, it is curious, how much may lie hidden in a person. No one would
have suspected anything, so quiet and shy, almost awkward. Isn't it
so? You did not suspect anything?"
"About the sickness! How can you ask such a question! Oh, you mean--I
did not quite understand you--you mean it was in the blood, something
hereditary?--Oh, yes, I remember there was something like that, they
took his father to Aarhus. Wasn't it so, Mr. Carlsen?"
"No! Yes, but it was to bury him, his first wife is buried there. No,
what I was thinking of was the dreadful--yes, the dreadful life he has
been leading the last two or two and a half years."
"Why no, really! I know nothing about that."
"Well, you see, of course, it is of the things one doesn't like to
talk about. . . . You understand, of course, consideration for those
nearest. The councilor's family. . . ."
"Yes, there is a certain amount of justice in what you say--but on the
other hand--tell me quite frankly, isn't there at present a false, a
sanctimonious striving to veil, to cover up the weaknesses of our
fellow-men? As for myself I don't understand much about that sort of
thing, but don't you think that truth or public morals, I don't mean
this morality, but--morals, conditions, whatever you will, suffer
under it?"
"Of course, and I am very glad to be able to agree so with you, and in
this case .
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