“It is clear,” interrupted I-330 , “that to be original means to stand out among others; consequently to be original means to violate the law of equality. What was called in the language of the ancients ‘to be common’ is with us only the fulfilling of one’s duty. For⁠—”

“Yes, yes, exactly,” I interrupted impatiently, “and there is no use, no use.⁠ ⁠…”

She came near the bust of the snub-nosed poet, lowered the curtains on the wild fire of her eyes and said, this time I think she was really in earnest, or perhaps she merely wanted to soften my impatience with her, but she said a very reasonable thing:

“Don’t you think it surprising that once people could stand types like this? Not only stand them but worship them. What a slavish spirit, don’t you think so?”

“It’s clear⁠ ⁠… that is⁠ ⁠… !” I wanted⁠ ⁠… (damn that cursed “it’s clear!”).