"Why come to me, your enemy, with your delicate confidences? I'm surprised...."
"Because you are a man of heart."
"Don't build on that any longer! But go on."
"How irritable you've grown! You're not the same man; you used to be so gentle."
"We discussed that before! Speak up!"
"I want to ask you whether you would come with me to the churchyard."
"I? Why don't you ask one of your colleagues from the Grey Bonnet?"
"There are reasons. I don't see why I shouldn't tell you. I'm not married."
"Not married! You! The defender of religion and morality, have broken the sacred bonds!"
"Poverty, the force of circumstances! But I'm just as happy as if I were married! I love my wife and she loves me, and that's all. But there's another reason. The child has not been baptized; it was three weeks old when it died, and therefore no clergyman will bury it. I don't dare to tell this to my wife, because she would fret. I've told her the clergyman would meet us in the churchyard; I'm telling you this to prevent a possible scene. She, of course, will remain at home. You'll only meet two other fellows; one of them, Levi, is a younger brother of the director of the 'Triton,' and one of the employés of that society. He's a decent sort, with an unusually good head and a still better heart. Don't laugh, I can see that you think I've borrowed money from him—and so I have—he's a man you'll like. The other one is my old friend, Dr. Borg, who treated the little one. He is very broad-minded, a man without any prejudices; you'll get on with him! I can count on you, can't I? There'll be four of us in the coach, and the little coffin, of course."