Old People and the Things That Pass

by Louis Couperus

"To prevent him from defending himself ... and that Ma-Boeten, behind the door, heard her say ..."

"Yes-yes ... yes-yes ... O my God!"

"Heard her say, 'I hate you, I hate you: I've always hated you ...'"

"Yes-yes ... O my God!"

"'I've always hated you and ... and I love Emile!'"

"Yes-yes ... and then?"

"And then she called out to Takma, almost aloud, 'Emile, give him a stab: rather he than you!'"

"O ... my ... God!"

The doctor sank, in a heavy mass, upon a chair:

"So you know!" he moaned. "It's sixty years ago, yes-yes, O my God, yes-yes! I've never spoken about it, never! I was so fond of your mother. I ... I ... I held an inquest on the body next day!"