Mr. Y. Will you acknowledge that I reason with both shrewdness and logic when you’ve heard what I’ve got to say? You have had an accident which might have got you two years’ hard labor; you’ve escaped scot-free from the stigma of hard labor, and here sits a man who has been the victim of a misfortune—a piece of unconscious suggestion—and suffered two years’ hard labor. This man can by great scientific services wipe out the stigma which he involuntarily brought upon himself, but to perform those services he must have money—a lot of money—and money at once.
Don’t you think that the other man—the man who went unpunished—should readjust the balance of human life in the same way as if he were adjudged liable to pay compensation? Don’t you think so?
Mr. X.[Quietly.] Yes.
Mr. Y. Now we understand one another. [Pause.] How much do you think fair?
Mr. X. Fair. The law provides that fifty kronors should be the minimum compensation, but as the dead man didn’t leave any dependents your argument falls to the ground.
Mr. Y. No; you won’t understand. Let me make it clearer. It’s to me that you must make the compensation.
Mr. X. I’ve never heard before that a homicide should make compensation to a forger, and, besides, I haven’t found anybody to accuse me.
Mr. Y. No? Well, here is someone.
Mr. X. Now we’re beginning to see how the land lies. How much do you want to abet my homicide?
Mr. Y. Six thousand kronors.