"I am. What should hinder me?"
"Some small love of life--a trivial but human sentiment. There is no one in your house. It is by this time deserted by all but the rats."
"My wife----"
"Was the last to leave, with a friend of yours, Christian Almer by name. He and I had some words together. Let me tell you. I happened to drop a remark concerning you which he considered disparaging, and had I been guilty of all the cardinal sins he could not have been more angered. A true friend--but probably he does not know what I know. Well for you that I did not enlighten him. You will meet them a little lower down on the road, but I advise you not to go too far. The valleys are rivers, carrying everything, headlong, in their course."
"There was an old lawyer in the house. Do you know what has become of him?"
"I saw him perched on the back of a fool, and by their side a girl with the sweetest face, and an old woman I should take to be her grandmother."
"Farewell," said the Advocate, wrenching himself free. "Should we meet again I will pay you for your friendly services."
"Well said," replied Vanbrugh. "I am content. No man ever knew you to be false to your word. A woman perhaps--but that lies in the past. Ah, what a storm! It is as though the end of the world had come."
"To those whose minutes are numbered," said the Advocate between his set teeth, "the end of the world has come. Farewell once more."
"Farewell then," cried Vanbrugh, proceeding onward. "For my sake be careful of yourself. If this be not the Second Deluge I will seek you to-morrow."