“But tell me, Erik, why did you call that room the torture-chamber?”
“Oh, it’s very simple. First of all, what did you see?”
“I saw a forest.”
“And what is in a forest?”
“Trees.”
“And what is in a tree?”
“Birds.”
“Did you see any birds?”
“No, I did not see any birds.”
“Well, what did you see? Think! You saw branches! And what are the branches?” asked the terrible voice. “ There’s a gibbet! That is why I call my wood the torture-chamber! … You see, it’s all a joke. I never express myself like other people. But I am very tired of it! … I’m sick and tired of having a forest and a torture-chamber in my house and of living like a mountebank, in a house with a false bottom! … I’m tired of it! I want to have a nice, quiet flat, with ordinary doors and windows and a wife inside it, like anybody else! A wife whom I could love and take out on Sundays and keep amused on weekdays. … Here, shall I show you some card-tricks? That will help us to pass a few minutes, while waiting for eleven o’clock tomorrow evening. … My dear little Christine! … Are you listening to me? … Tell me you love me! … No, you don’t love me … but no matter, you will! … Once, you could not look at my mask because you knew what was behind. … And now you don’t mind looking at it and you forget what is behind! … One can get used to everything … if one wishes. … Plenty of young people who did not care for each other before marriage have adored each other since! Oh, I don’t know what I am