STRANGER (with certainty). Yes. It was.
PRIOR. It was; and you've never been able to forget it. Never. Now listen, you've a good memory; can you remember The Swiss Family Robinson?
STRANGER (shrinking). The Swiss Family Robinson?
PRIOR. Yes. Those events that caused you such mental torture happened in 1857, but at Christmas 1856, that is the year before, you tore a copy of that book and out of fear of punishment hid it under a chest in the kitchen. (The STRANGER is taken aback.) The wardrobe was painted in oak graining, and clothes hung in its upper part, whilst shoes stood below. This wardrobe seemed enormously big to you, for you were a small child, and you couldn't imagine it could ever be moved; but during spring cleaning at Easter what was hidden was brought to light. Fear drove you to put the blame on a schoolfellow. And now he had to endure torture, because appearances were against him, for you were thought to be trustworthy. After this the history of your sorrows comes as a logical sequence. You accept this logic?
STRANGER. Yes. Punish me!
PRIOR. No. I don't punish; when I was a child I did—similar things. But will you now promise to forget this history of your own sufferings for all time and never to recount it again?
STRANGER. I promise! If only he whom I took advantage of could forgive me.
PRIOR. He has already. Isn't that so, Pater Isidor?
ISIDOR (who was the DOCTOR in the first part of 'The Road to Damascus,' rising). With my whole heart!
STRANGER. It's you!