ERICSON. And in the meantime the student has been arrested. Do you know him?
STRANGER. Very little—his mother more, for she was a maid in our house. She was both pretty and good, and I was making up to her—until she had a child.
ERICSON. And were you not its father?
STRANGER. I was not. But as a denial of fatherhood is not allowed, I suppose I must be regarded as a sort of stepfather.
ERICSON. Then they have lied about you.
STRANGER. Of course. But that's a very common thing.
ERICSON. And I was among those who testified against you—under oath!
STRANGER. I have no doubt about it, but what does it matter? Nothing matters at all! But now we had better quit pulling—or we'll get the whole web unravelled.
ERICSON. But think of me, who have perjured myself——
STRANGER. Yes, it isn't pleasant, but such things will happen.