PARIAH

INTRODUCTION

Both"Creditors"and"Pariah"werewritteninthewinterof1888-
89atHolte,nearCopenhagen,whereStrindberg,assistedbyhis
firstwife,wasthenengagedinstartingwhathecalleda
"ScandinavianExperimentalTheatre."InMarch,1889,thetwoplays
weregivenbystudentsfromtheUniversityofCopenhagen,andwith
Mrs.vonEssenStrindbergasTekla.Acoupleofweekslaterthe
performancewasrepeatedacrosstheSound,intheSwedishcityof
Malmo,onwhichoccasionthewriterofthisintroduction,thena
youngactor,assistedinthestagemanagement.Oneoftheactors
wasGustavWied,aDanishplaywrightandnovelist,whoseexquisite
artsincethenhaswonhimEuropeanfame.IntheaudiencewasOla
Hansson,aSwedishnovelistandpoetwhohadjustpublisheda
shortstoryfromwhichStrindberg,accordingtohisown
acknowledgmentonplaybillandtitle-page,hadtakenthenameand
thethemeof"Pariah."

Mr.Hanssonhasprintedanumberofletters(Tilskueren,
Copenhagen,July,1912)writtentohimbyStrindbergaboutthat
time,aswellassomeveryinformativecommentsofhisown.
ConcerningtheperformanceofMalmohewrites:"Itgavemeavery
unpleasantsensation.Whatdiditmean?WhyhadStrindbergturned
mysimplethemeupsidedownsothatitbecameunrecognisable?Nota
vestigeofthe'themefromOlaHansson'remained.Yethehadeven
suggestedthatheandIacttheplaytogether,Inotknowingthat
itwastobeaduelbetweentwocriminals.Andhehadatfirst
plannedtocallit'AryanandPariah'--whichmeant,ofcourse,
thatthestrongAryan,Strindberg,wastocrushtheweakPariah,
Hansson,corampopulo."

InregardtohisownstoryMr.Hanssoninformsusthatitdealt
with"amanwhocommitsaforgeryandthentellsaboutit,doing
bothinasortofsomnambulisticstatewherebyeverythingisleft
vagueandundefined."Atthatmoment"Raskolnikov"wasintheair,
sotospeak.Andwithoutwantinginanywaytosuggestimitation,
Ifeelsurethatthegroundnoteofthestorywasdistinctly
Dostoievskian.StrindberghimselfhadbeenreadingNietzscheand
was--largelyunderthepressureofareactionagainstthepopular
disapprovalofhisanti-feministicattitude--beingdrivenmoreand
moreintoasupermanphilosophywhichreacheditsclimaxinthe
twonovels"Chandalah"(1889)and"AttheEdgeoftheSea"(1890).
TheNietzscheannoteisunmistakableinthetwoplayscontainedin
thepresentvolume.

Buttheseplaysarestronglycoloredbysomethingelse--by
somethingthatisneitherHansson-DostoievskinorStrindberg-
Nietzsche.Thesolutionoftheproblemisfoundintheletters
publishedbyMr.Hansson.TheseshowthatwhileStrindbergwas
stillplanning"Creditors,"andbeforehehadbegun"Pariah,"he
hadborrowedfromHanssonavolumeoftalesbyEdgarAllanPoe.It
washisfirstacquaintancewiththeworkofPoe,thoughnotwith
Americanliterature--foramonghisfirstprintedworkwasa
seriesoftranslationsfromAmericanhumourists;andnotlongago
aSwedishcritic(GunnarCastreninSamtiden,Christiania,June,
1912)wroteofStrindberg'sliterarybeginningsthat"hehad
learnedmuchfromSwedishliterature,butprobablymorefromMark
TwainandDickens."

TheimpressionPoemadeonStrindbergwasoverwhelming.Hereturns
toitinoneletterafteranother.Everythingthatsuitshismood
ofthemomentis"Poesque"or"E.P-esque."Thestorythatseems
tohavemadethedeepestimpressionofallwas"TheGoldBug,"
thoughhisthoughtseemstohavedistilledmoreusefulmaterial
outofcertainotherstoriesillustratingPoe'stheoriesabout
mentalsuggestion.Underthedirectinfluenceofthesetheories,
Strindberg,accordingtohisownstatementstoHansson,wrotethe
powerfulone-actplay"Simoom,"andmadeGustavin"Creditors"
actuallyCALLFORTHthelatentepileptictendenciesinAdolph.And
onthesameauthoritywemusttracethemethodof:psychological
detectionpractisedbyMr.X.in"Pariah"directlyto"TheGold
Bug."

HerewehavethereasonwhyMr.Hanssoncouldfindsolittleof
hisstoryintheplay.Andherewehavetheoriginofatheme
which,whilenotquitenewtohim,waseverafterwardtoremaina
favouriteonewithStrindberg:thatofaduelbetweenintellect
andcunning.Itformsthebasisofsuchnovelsas"Chandalah"and
"AttheEdgeoftheSea,"butitrecursinsubtlerforminworks
ofmuchlaterdate.Toreadersofthepresentday,Mr.X.--that
strikingantithesisofeverythingascientistusedtostandforin
poetry--ismuchlessinterestingasasupermaninspethanasan
illustrationofwhatamorallyandmentallynormalmancandowith
thetoolsfurnishedhimbyournewunderstandingofhumanwaysand
humanmotives.Andingivingusaplaythatholdsourinterestas
firmlyasthebest"loveplot"everdevised,althoughthestage
showsusonlytwomenengagedinanintellectualwrestlingmatch,
Strindbergtookanothergreatsteptowardriddingthedramaofits
old,shacklingconventions.

Thenameofthisplayhassometimesbeentranslatedas"The
Outcast,"wherebyitbecomesconfusedwith"TheOutlaw,"amuch
earlierplayonathemefromtheoldSagas.Ithinkitbetter,
too,thattheHinduallusionintheSwedishtitlebenotlost,for
thebestofmenmaybecomeanoutcast,butthebasenessofthe
Pariahisnotsupposedtospringonlyfromlackofsocial
position.

PARIAH

ANACT

1889

PERSONS

MR.X.,anarchaeologist,Middle-agedman.

MR.Y.,anAmericantraveller,Middle-agedman.

SCENE

(Asimplyfurnishedroominafarmhouse.Thedoorandthewindows
inthebackgroundopenonalandscape.Inthemiddleoftheroom
standsabigdining-table,coveredatoneendbybooks,writing
materials,andantiquities;attheotherend,byamicroscope,
insectcases,andspecimenjarsfullofalchohol.)

(Ontheleftsidehangsabookshelf.Otherwisethefurnitureis
thatofawell-to-dofarmer.)

(MR.Y.entersinhisshirt-sleeves,carryingabutterfly-netand
abotany-can.Hegoesstraightuptothebookshelfandtakesdown
abook,whichhebeginstoreadonthespot.)

(Thelandscapeoutsideandtheroomitselfaresteepedin
sunlight.Theringingofchurchbellsindicatesthatthemorning
servicesarejustover.Nowandthenthecacklingofhensisheard
fromtheoutside.)

(MR.X.enters,alsoinhisshirt-sleeves.)

(MR.Y.startsviolently,putsthebookbackontheshelfupside-
down,andpretendstobelookingforanothervolume.)

MR.X.Thisheatishorrible.Iguesswearegoingtohavea
thunderstorm.

MR.Y.Whatmakesyouthinkso?

MR.X.Thebellshaveakindofdryringtothem,thefliesare
sticky,andthehenscackle.Imeanttogofishing,butIcouldn't
findanyworms.Don'tyoufeelnervous?

MR.Y.[Cautiously]I?--Alittle.

MR.X.Well,forthatmatter,youalwayslookasifyouwere
expectingthunderstorms.

MR.Y.[Withastart]DoI?

MR.X.Now,youaregoingawaytomorrow,ofcourse,soitisnot
tobewonderedatthatyouarealittle"journey-proud."--
Anythingnew?--Oh,there'sthemail![Picksupsomelettersfrom
thetable]My,IhavepalpitationofthehearteverytimeIopena
letter!Nothingbutdebts,debts,debts!Haveyoueverhadany
debts?

MR.Y.[Aftersomereflection]N-no.

MR.X.Well,thenyoudon'tknowwhatitmeanstoreceivealotof
overduebills.[Readsoneoftheletters]Therentunpaid--the
landlordactingnasty--mywifeindespair.AndhereamIsitting
waist-highingold![Heopensaniron-bandedboxthatstandson
thetable;thenbothsitdownatthetable,facingeachother]
Justlook--hereIhavesixthousandcrowns'worthofgoldwhichI
havedugupinthelastfortnight.Thisbraceletalonewouldbring
methethreehundredandfiftycrownsIneed.AndwithallofitI
mightmakeafinecareerformyself.ThenIcouldgetthe
illustrationsmadeformytreatiseatonce;Icouldgetmywork
printed,and--Icouldtravel!Whydon'tIdoit,doyousuppose?

MR.Y.Isupposeyouareafraidtobefoundout.

MR.X.That,too,perhaps.Butdon'tyouthinkanintelligent
fellowlikemyselfmightfixmatterssothathewasneverfound
out?Iamaloneallthetime--withnobodywatchingme--whileIam
diggingoutthereinthefields.Itwouldn'tbestrangeifIput
somethinginmyownpocketsnowandthen.

MR.Y.Yes,buttheworstdangerliesindisposingofthestuff.

MR.X.Pooh!I'dmeltitdown,ofcourse--everybitofit--and
thenI'dturnitintocoins--withjustasmuchgoldinthemas
genuineones,ofcourse---

MR.Y.Ofcourse!

MR.X.Well,youcaneasilyseewhy.ForifIwantedtodabblein
counterfeits,thenIneednotgodiggingforgoldfirst.[Pause]
Itisastrangethinganyhow,thatifanybodyelsedidwhatI
cannotmakemyselfdo,thenI'dbewillingtoacquithim--butI
couldn'tpossiblyacquitmyself.Imightevenmakeabrilliant
speechindefenceofthethief,provingthatthisgoldwasres
nullius,ornobody's,asithadbeendepositedatatimewhen
propertyrightsdidnotyetexist;thatevenunderexistingrights
itcouldbelongonlytothefirstfinderofit,astheground-
ownerhasneverincludeditinthevaluationofhisproperty;and
soon.

MR.Y.Andprobablyitwouldbemucheasierforyoutodothisif
the--hm!--thethiefhadnotbeenpromptedbyactualneed,butbya
maniaforcollecting,forinstance--orbyscientificaspirations--
bytheambitiontokeepadiscoverytohimself.Don'tyouthink
so?

MR.X.YoumeanthatIcouldnotacquithimifactualneedhad
beenthemotive?Yes,forthat'stheonlymotivewhichthelaw
willnotacceptinextenuation.Thatmotivemakesaplaintheftof
it.

MR.Y.Andthisyoucouldn'texcuse?

MR.X.Oh,excuse--no,Iguessnot,asthelawwouldn't.Onthe
otherhand,Imustadmitthatitwouldbehardformetochargea
collectorwiththeftmerelybecausehehadappropriatedsome
specimennotyetrepresentedinhisowncollection.

MR.Y.Sothatvanityorambitionmightexcusewhatcouldnotbe
excusedbyneed?

MR.X.Andyetneedoughttobethemoretellingexcuse--theonly
one,infact?ButIfeelasIhavesaid.AndIcannomorechange
thisfeelingthanIcanchangemyowndeterminationnottosteal
underanycircumstanceswhatever.

MR.Y.AndIsupposeyoucountitagreatmeritthatyoucannot--
hm!--steal?

MR.X.No,mydisinclinationtostealisjustasirresistibleas
theinclinationtodosoisirresistiblewithsomepeople.Soit
cannotbecalledamerit.Icannotdoit,andtheotheronecannot
refrain!--Butyouunderstand,ofcourse,thatIamnotwithouta
desiretoownthisgold.Whydon'tItakeitthen?BecauseI
cannot!It'saninability--andthelackofsomethingcannotbe
calledamerit.There!

[Closestheboxwithaslam.Straycloudshavecasttheirshadows
onthelandscapeanddarkenedtheroomnowandthen.Nowitgrows
quitedarkaswhenathunderstormisapproaching.]

MR.X.Howclosetheairis!Iguessthestormiscomingall
right.

[MR.Y.getsupandshutsthedoorandallthewindows.]

MR.X.Areyouafraidofthunder?

MR.Y.It'sjustaswelltobecareful.

(Theyresumetheirseatsatthetable.)

MR.X.You'reacuriouschap!Hereyoucomedroppingdownlikea
bombafortnightago,introducingyourselfasaSwedish-American
whoiscollectingfliesforasmallmuseum---

MR.Y.Oh,nevermindmenow!

MR.X.That'swhatyoualwayssaywhenIgrowtiredoftalking
aboutmyselfandwanttoturnmyattentiontoyou.Perhapsthat
wasthereasonwhyItooktoyouasIdid--becauseyouletme
talkaboutmyself?Allatonceweseemedlikeoldfriends.There
werenoanglesaboutyouagainstwhichIcouldbumpmyself,no
pinsthatpricked.Therewassomethingsoftaboutyourwhole
person,andyouoverflowedwiththattactwhichonlywell-educated
peopleknowhowtoshow.Younevermadeanoisewhenyoucamehome
lateatnightorgotupearlyinthemorning.Youwerepatientin
smallthings,andyougaveinwheneveraconflictseemed
threatening.Inaword,youprovedyourselftheperfectcompanion!
Butyouwereentirelytoocompliantnottosetmewonderingabout
youinthelongrun--andyouaretootimid,tooeasilyfrightened.
Itseemsalmostasifyouweremadeupoftwodifferent
personalities.Why,asIsitherelookingatyourbackinthe
mirroroverthere--itisasifIwerelookingatsomebodyelse.

(MR.Y.turnsaroundandstaresatthemirror.)

MR.X.No,youcannotgetaglimpseofyourownback,man!--In
frontyouappearlikeafearlesssortoffellow,onemeetinghis
fatewithbaredbreast,butfrombehind--really,Idon'twantto
beimpolite,but--youlookasifyouwerecarryingaburden,oras
ifyouwerecrouchingtoescapearaisedstick.AndwhenIlookat
thatredcrossyoursuspendersmakeonyourwhiteshirt--well,it
lookstomelikesomekindofemblem,likeatrade-markona
packing-box--

MR.Y.IfeelasifI'dchoke--ifthestormdoesn'tbreaksoon--

MR.X.It'scoming--don'tyouworry!--Andyourneck!Itlooksas
ifthereoughttobeanotherkindoffaceontopofit,aface
quitedifferentintypefromyours.Andyourearscomesoclose
togetherbehindthatsometimesIwonderwhatraceyoubelongto.
[Aflashoflightninglightsuptheroom]Why,itlookedasif
thatmighthavestruckthesheriff'shouse!

MR.Y.[Alarmed]Thesheriff's!

MR.X.Oh,itjustlookedthatway.ButIdon'tthinkwe'llget
muchofthisstorm.Sitdownnowandletushaveatalk,asyou
aregoingawayto-morrow.OnethingIfindstrangeisthatyou,
withwhomIhavebecomesointimateinthisshorttime--thatyon
areoneofthosewhoseimageIcannotcallupwhenIamawayfrom
them.Whenyouarenothere,andIhappentothinkofyou,I
alwaysgetthevisionofanotheracquaintance--onewhodoesnot
resembleyou,butwithwhomyouhavecertaintraitsincommon.

MR.Y.Whoishe?

MR.X.Idon'twanttonamehim,but--Iusedforseveralyearsto
takemymealsatacertainplace,andthere,attheside-table
wheretheykeptthewhiskeyandtheotterpreliminaries,Imeta
littleblondman,withblond,fadedeyes.Hehadawonderful
facultyformakinghiswaythroughacrowd,withoutjostling
anybodyorbeingjostledhimself.Andfromhiscustomaryplace
downbythedoorheseemedperfectlyabletoreachwhateverhe
wantedonatablethatstoodsomesixfeetawayfromhim.He
seemedalwayshappyjusttobeincompany.Butwhenhemetanybody
heknew,thenthejoyofitmadehimroarwithlaughter,andhe
wouldhugandpattheotherfellowasifhehadn'tseenahuman
faceforyears.Whenanybodysteppedonhisfoot,hesmiledasif
eagertoapologiseforbeingintheway.FortwoyearsIwatched
himandamusedmyselfbyguessingathisoccupationandcharacter.
ButIneveraskedwhohewas;Ididn'twanttoknow,yousee,for
thenallthefunwouldhavebeenspoiledatonce.Thatmanhad
justyourqualityofbeingindefinite.AtdifferenttimesImade
himouttobeateacherwhohadnevergothislicence,anon-
commissionedofficer,adruggist,agovernmentclerk,adetective-
-andlikeyou,helookedasifmadeoutoftwopieces,forthe
frontofhimneverquitefittedtheback.OnedayIhappenedto
readinanewspaperaboutabigforgerycommittedbyawell-known
governmentofficial.ThenIlearnedthatmyindefinitegentleman
hadbeenapartneroftheforger'sbrother,andthathisnamewas
Strawman.LateronIlearnedthattheaforesaidStrawmanusedto
runacirculatinglibrary,butthathewasnowthepolicereporter
ofabigdaily.HowintheworldcouldIhopetoestablisha
connectionbetweentheforgery,thepolice,andmylittleman's
peculiarmanners?Itwasbeyondme;andwhenIaskedafriend
whetherStrawmanhadeverbeenpunishedforsomething,myfriend
couldn'tanswereitheryesorno--hejustdidn'tknow![Pause.]

MR.Y.Well,hadheeverbeen--punished?

MR.X.No,hehadnot.[Pause.]

MR.Y.Andthatwasthereason,youthink,whythepolicehadsuch
anattractionforhim,andwhyhewassoafraidofoffending
people?

MR.X.Exactly!

MR.Y.Anddidyoubecomeacquaintedwithhimafterward?

MR.X.No,Ididn'twantto.[Pause.]

MR.Y.Wouldyouhavebeenwillingtomakehisacquaintanceifhe
hadbeen--punished?

MR.X.Perfectly!

(MR.Y.risesandwalksbackandforthseveraltimes.)

MR.X.Sitstill!Whycan'tyousitstill?

MR.Y.Howdidyougetyourliberalviewofhumanconditions?Are
youaChristian?

MR.X.Oh,can'tyouseethatIamnot?

(MR.Y.makesaface.)

MR.X.TheChristiansrequireforgiveness.ButIrequire
punishmentinorderthatthebalance,orwhateveryoumaycallit,
berestored.Andyou,whohaveservedaterm,oughttoknowthe
difference.

MR.Y.[StandsmotionlessandstaresatMR.X.,firstwithwild,
hatefuleyes,thenwithsurpriseandadmiration]How--could--you-
-know--that?

MR.X.Why,Icouldseeit.

MR.Y.How?Howcouldyouseeit?

MR.X,Oh,withalittlepractice.Itisanart,likemanyothers.
Butdon'tletustalkofitanymore.[Helooksathiswatch,
arrangesadocumentonthetable,dipsapenintheink-well,and
handsittoMR.Y.]Imustbethinkingofmytangledaffairs.
Won'tyoupleasewitnessmysignatureonthisnotehere?Iam
goingtoturnitintothebankatMalmotomorrow,whenIgoto
thecitywithyou.

MR.Y.IamnotgoingbywayofMalmo.

MR.X.Oh,youarenot?

MR.Y.No.

MR.X.Butthatneednotpreventyoufromwitnessingmysignature.

MR.Y.N-no!--Ineverwritemynameonpapersofthatkind--

MR.X.--anylonger!Thisisthefifthtimeyouhaverefusedto
writeyourownname.Thefirsttimenothingmoreseriouswas
involvedthanthereceiptforaregisteredletter.ThenIbeganto
watchyou.AndsincethenIhavenoticedthatyouhaveamorbid
fearofapenfilledwithink.Youhavenotwrittenasingle
lettersinceyoucamehere--onlyapost-card,andthatyouwrote
withabluepencil.YouunderstandnowthatIhavefiguredoutthe
exactnatureofyourslip?Furthermore!Thisissomethinglikethe
seventhtimeyouhaverefusedtocomewithmetoMalmo,which
placeyouhavenotvisitedatallduringallthistime.Andyet
youcamethewholewayfromAmericamerelytohavealookat
Malmo!Andeverymorningyouwalkacoupleofmiles,uptotheold
mill,justtogetaglimpseoftheroofsofMalmointhedistance.
Andwhenyoustandoverthereattheright-handwindowandlook
outthroughthethirdpanefromthebottomontheleftside,yon
canseethespiredturretsofthecastleandthetallchimneyof
thecountyjail.--AndnowIhopeyouseethatit'syourown
stupidityratherthanmyclevernesswhichhasmadeeverything
cleartome.

MR.Y.Thismeansthatyoudespiseme?

MR.X.Oh,no!

MR.Y.Yes,youdo--youcannotbutdoit!

MR.X.No--here'smyhand.

(MR.Y.takesholdoftheoutstretchedhandandkissesit.)

MR.X.[Drawingbackhishand]Don'tlickhandslikeadog!

MR.Y.Pardonme,sir,butyouarethefirstonewhohasletme
touchhishandafterlearning--

MR.X.Andnowyoucallme"sir!"--Whatscaresmeaboutyouis
thatyoudon'tfeelexonerated,washedclean,raisedtotheold
level,asgoodasanybodyelse,whenyouhavesufferedyour
punishment.Doyoucaretotellmehowithappened?Wouldyou?

MR.Y.[Twistinguneasily]Yes,butyouwon'tbelievewhatIsay.
ButI'lltellyou.ThenyoucanseeforyourselfthatIamno
ORDINARYcriminal.You'llbecomeconvinced,Ithink,thatthere
areerrorswhich,sotospeak,areinvoluntary--[twistingagain]
whichseemtocommitthemselves--spontaneously--withoutbeing
willedbyoneself,andforwhichonecannotbeheldresponsible--
MayIopenthedooralittlenow,sincethestormseemstohave
passedover?

MR.X.Suityourself.

MR.Y.[Opensthedoor;thenhesitsdownatthetableandbegins
tospeakwithexaggerateddisplayoffeeling,theatricalgestures,
andagooddealoffalseemphasis]Yes,I'lltellyou!Iwasa
studentintheuniversityatLund,andIneededtogetaloanfrom
abank.Ihadnopressingdebts,andmyfatherownedsome
property--notagreatdeal,ofcourse.However,Ihadsentthe
notetothesecondmanofthetwowhoweretoactassecurity,
and,contrarytoexpectations,itcamebackwitharefusal.Fora
whileIwascompletelystunnedbytheblow,foritwasavery
unpleasantsurprise--mostunpleasant!Thenotewaslyinginfront
ofmeonthetable,andtheletterlaybesideit.Atfirstmyeyes
staredhopelesslyatthoselinesthatpronouncedmydoom--thatis,
notadeath-doom,ofcourse,forIcouldeasilyfindother
securities,asmanyasIwanted--butasIhavealreadysaid,it
wasveryannoyingjustthesame.AndasIwassittingtherequite
unconsciousofanyevilintention,myeyesfasteneduponthe
signatureoftheletter,whichwouldhavemademyfuturesecureif
ithadonlyappearedintherightplace.Itwasanunusuallywell-
writtensignature--andyouknowhowsometimesonemayabsent-
mindedlyscribbleasheetofpaperfullofmeaninglesswords.I
hadapeninmyhand--[picksupapenholderfromthetable]like
this.Andsomehowitjustbegantorun--Idon'twanttoclaimthat
therewasanythingmystical--anythingofaspiritualisticnature
backofit--forthatkindofthingIdon'tbelievein!Itwasa
whollyunreasoned,mechanicalprocess--mycopyingofthat
beautifulautographoverandoveragain.Whenallthecleanspace
ontheletterwasusedup,Ihadlearnedtoreproducethe
signatureautomatically--andthen--[throwingawaythepenholder
withaviolentgesture]thenIforgotallaboutit.ThatnightI
sleptlongandheavily.AndwhenIwokeup,IcouldfeelthatI
hadbeendreaming,butIcouldn'trecallthedreamitself.At
timesitwasasifadoorhadbeenthrownajar,andthenIseemed
toseethewriting-tablewiththenoteonitasinadistant
memory--andwhenIgotoutofbed,Iwasforceduptothetable,
justasif,aftercarefuldeliberation,Ihadformedan
irrevocabledecisiontosignthenametothatfatefulpaper.All
thoughtoftheconsequences,oftheriskinvolved,had
disappeared--nohesitationremained--itwasalmostasifIwas
fulfillingsomesacredduty--andsoIwrote![Leapstohisfeet]
Whatcoulditbe?Wasitsomekindofoutsideinfluence,acaseof
mentalsuggestion,astheycallit?Butfromwhomcoulditcome?I
wassleepingaloneinthatroom.Coulditpossiblybemyprimitive
self--thesavagetowhomthekeepingoffaithisanunknownthing-
-whichpushedtothefrontwhilemyconsciousnesswasasleep--
togetherwiththecriminalwillofthatself,anditsinabilityto
calculatetheresultsofanaction?Tellme,whatdoyouthinkof
it?

MR.X.[Asifhehadtoforcethewordsoutofhimself]Frankly
speaking,yourstorydoesnotconvinceme--therearegapsinit,
butthesemaydependonyourfailuretorecallallthedetails--
andIhavereadsomethingaboutcriminalsuggestion--orIthinkI
have,atleast--hm!Butallthatisneitherherenorthere!You
havetakenyourmedicine--andyouhavehadthecourageto
acknowledgeyourfault.Nowwewon'ttalkofitanymore.

MR.Y.Yes,yes,yes,wemusttalkofit--tillIbecomesureofmy
innocence.

MR.X.Well,areyounot?

MR.Y.No,Iamnot!

MR.X.That'sjustwhatbothersme,Itellyou.It'sexactlywhat
isbotheringme!--Don'tyoufeelfairlysurethateveryhuman
beinghidesaskeletoninhiscloset?Havewenot,allofus,
stolenandliedaschildren?Undoubtedly!Well,nowthereare
personswhoremainchildrenalltheirlives,sothattheycannot
controltheirunlawfuldesires.Thencomestheopportunity,and
thereyouhaveyourcriminal.--ButIcannotunderstandwhyyou
don'tfeelinnocent.Ifthechildisnotheldresponsible,why
shouldthecriminalberegardeddifferently?Itisthemore
strangebecause--well,perhapsImaycometorepentitlater.
[Pause]I,formypart,havekilledaman,andIhavenever
sufferedanyqualmsonaccountofit.

MR.Y.[Verymuchinterested]Have--you?

MR.X,Yes,I,andnoneelse!Perhapsyoudon'tcaretoshake
handswithamurderer?

MR.Y.[Pleasantly]Oh,whatnonsense!

MR.X.Yes,butIhavenotbeenpunished,

ME.Y.[Growingmorefamiliarandtakingonasuperiortone]So
muchthebetterforyou!--Howdidyougetoutofit?

MR.X.Therewasnobodytoaccuseme,nosuspicions,nowitnesses.
Thisisthewayithappened.OneChristmasIwasinvitedtohunt
withafellow-studentalittlewayoutofUpsala.Hesenta
besottedoldcoachmantomeetmeatthestation,andthisfellow
wenttosleeponthebox,drovethehorsesintoafence,andupset
thewholeequipageinaditch.Iamnotgoingtopretendthatmy
lifewasindanger.Itwassheerimpatiencewhichmademehithim
acrosstheneckwiththeedgeofmyhand--youknowtheway--just
towakehimup--andtheresultwasthatheneverwokeupatall,
butcollapsedthenandthere.

MR.Y.[Craftily]Anddidyoureportit?

MR.X.No,andtheseweremyreasonsfornotdoingso.Theman
leftnofamilybehindhim,oranybodyelsetowhomhislifecould
beoftheslightestuse.Hehadalreadyoutlivedhisallotted
periodofvegetation,andhisplacemightjustaswellbefilled
bysomebodymoreinneedofit.Ontheotherhand,mylifewas
necessarytothehappinessofmyparentsandmyself,andperhaps
alsototheprogressofmyscience.Theoutcomehadonceforall
curedmeofanydesiretowakeuppeopleinthatmanner,andI
didn'tcaretospoilbothmyownlifeandthatofmyparentsfor
thesakeofanabstractprincipleofjustice.

MR.Y.Oh,that'sthewayyoumeasurethevalueofahumanlife?

MR.X.Inthepresentcase,yes.

MR.Y.Butthesenseofguilt--thatbalanceyouwerespeakingof?

MR.X.Ihadnosenseofguilt,asIhadcommittednocrime.Asa
boyIhadgivenandtakenmorethanoneblowofthesamekind,and
thefataloutcomeinthisparticularcasewassimplycausedbymy
ignoranceoftheeffectsuchablowmighthaveonanelderly
person.

MR.Y.Yes,buteventheunintentionalkillingofamanis
punishedwithatwo-yeartermathardlabour--whichisexactly
whatonegetsfor--writingnames.

MR.X.Oh,youmaybesureIhavethoughtofit.Andmorethanone
nightIhavedreamtmyselfinprison.Tellmenow--isitreallyas
badastheysaytofindoneselfbehindboltandbar?

MR.Y.Youbetitis!--Firstofalltheydisfigureyoubycutting
offyourhair,andifyoudon'tlooklikeacriminalbefore,you
aresuretodosoafterward.Andwhenyoucatchsightofyourself
inamirroryoufeelquitesurethatyouarearegularbandit.

MR.X.Isn'titamaskthatisbeingtornoff,perhaps?Which
wouldn'tbeabadidea,Ishouldsay.

MR.Y.Yes,youcanhaveyourlittlejestaboutit!--Andthenthey
cutdownyourfood,sothateverydayandeveryhouryoubecome
consciousoftheborderlinebetweenlifeanddeath.Everyvital
functionismoreorlesschecked.Youcanfeelyourselfshrinking.
Andyoursoul,whichwastobecuredandimproved,isinsteadput
onastarvationdiet--pushedbackathousandyearsintooutlived
ages.Youarenotpermittedtoreadanythingbutwhatwaswritten
forthesavageswhotookpartinthemigrationofthepeoples.You
hearofnothingbutwhatwillneverhappeninheaven;andwhat
actuallydoeshappenontheearthiskepthiddenfromyou.Youare
tornoutofyoursurroundings,reducedfromyourownclass,put
beneaththosewhoarereallybeneathyourself.Thenyougeta
senseoflivinginthebronzeage.Youcometofeelasifyouwere
dressedinskins,asifyouwerelivinginacaveandeatingout
ofatrough--ugh!

MR.X.Butthereisreasonbackofallthat.Onewhoactsasifhe
belongedtothebronzeagemightsurelybeexpectedtodonthe
propercostume.

MR.Y.[Irately]Yes,yousneer!Youwhohavebehavedlikeaman
fromthestoneage--andwhoarepermittedtoliveinthegolden
age.

MR.X.[Sharply,watchinghimclosely]Whatdoyoumeanwiththat
lastexpression--thegoldenage?

MR.Y.[Withapoorlysuppressedsnarl]Nothingatall.

MR.X.Nowyoulie--becauseyouaretoomuchofacowardtosay
allyouthink.

MR.Y.AmIacoward?Youthinkso?ButIwasnocowardwhenI
daredtoshowmyselfaroundhere,whereIhadhadtosufferasI
did.--Butcanyoutellwhatmakesonesuffermostwhileinthere?-
-Itisthattheothersarenotintheretoo!

MR.X.Whatothers?

MR.Y.Thosethatgounpunished.

MR.X.Areyouthinkingofme?

MR.Y.Iam.

MR.X.ButIhavecommittednocrime.

MR.Y.Oh,haven'tyou?

MR.X.No,amisfortuneisnocrime.

MR.Y.So,it'samisfortunetocommitmurder?

MR.X.Ihavenotcommittedmurder.

MR.Y.Isitnotmurdertokillaperson?

MR.X.Notalways.Thelawspeaksofmurder,manslaughter,killing
inself-defence--anditmakesadistinctionbetweenintentional
andunintentionalkilling.However--nowyoureallyfrightenme,
forit'sbecomingplaintomethatyoubelongtothemost
dangerousofallhumangroups--thatofthestupid.

MR.Y.SoyouimaginethatIamstupid?Well,listen--wouldyou
likemetoshowyouhowcleverIam?

MR.X.Comeon!

MR.Y.Ithinkyou'llhavetoadmitthatthereisbothlogicand
wisdomintheargumentI'mnowgoingtogiveyou.Youhave
sufferedamisfortunewhichmighthavebroughtyoutwoyearsat
hardlabor.Youhavecompletelyescapedthedisgraceofbeing
punished.Andhereyouseebeforeyouaman--whohasalsosuffered
amisfortune--thevictimofanunconsciousimpulse--andwhohas
hadtostandtwoyearsofhardlaborforit.Onlybysomegreat
scientificachievementcanthismanwipeoffthetaintthathas
becomeattachedtohimwithoutanyfaultofhisown--butinorder
toarriveatsomesuchachievement,hemusthavemoney--alotof
money--andmoneythisminute!Don'tyouthinkthattheotherone,
theunpunishedone,wouldbringalittlebetterbalanceintothese
unequalhumanconditionsifhepaidapenaltyintheformofa
fine?Don'tyouthinkso?

MR.X.[Calmly]Yes.

MR.Y.Thenweunderstandeachother.--Hm![Pause]Whatdoyou
thinkwouldbereasonable?

MR.X.Reasonable?Theminimumfineinsuchacaseisfixedbythe
lawatfiftycrowns.Butthiswholequestionissettledbythe
factthatthedeadmanleftnorelatives.

MR.Y.Apparentlyyoudon'twanttounderstand.ThenI'llhaveto
speakplainly:itistomeyoumustpaythatfine.

MR.X.Ihaveneverheardthatforgershavetherighttocollect
finesimposedformanslaughter.And,besides,thereisno
prosecutor.

MR.Y.Thereisn't?Well--howwouldIdo?

MR.X.Oh,NOWwearegettingthematterclearedup!Howmuchdo
youwantforbecomingmyaccomplice?

MR.Y.Sixthousandcrowns.

MR.X.That'stoomuch.AndwhereamItogetthem?

(MR.Y.pointstothebox.)

MR.X.No,Idon'twanttodothat.Idon'twanttobecomea
thief.

MR.Y.Oh,don'tputonanyairsnow!DoyouthinkI'llbelieve
thatyouhaven'thelpedyourselfoutofthatboxbefore?

MR.X.[Asifspeakingtohimself]Thinkonly,thatIcouldlet
myselfbefooledsocompletely.Butthat'sthewaywiththesesoft
natures.Youlikethem,andthenit'ssoeasytobelievethatthey
likeyou.Andthat'sthereasonwhyIhavealwaysbeenonmyguard
againstpeopleItakealikingto!--Soyouarefirmlyconvinced
thatIhavehelpedmyselfoutoftheboxbefore?

MR.Y.Certainly!MR.X.Andyouaregoingtoreportmeifyou
don'tgetsixthousandcrowns?

MR.Y.Mostdecidedly!Youcan'tgetoutofit,sothere'snouse
trying.

MR.X.YouthinkIamgoingtogivemyfatherathiefforson,my
wifeathiefforhusband,mychildrenathiefforfather,my
fellow-workersathiefforcolleague?No,thatwillneverhappen!-
-NowIamgoingovertothesherifftoreportthekillingmyself.

MR.Y.[Jumpsupandbeginstopickuphisthings]Waitamoment!

MR.X.Forwhat?

MR.Y.[Stammering]Oh,Ithought--asIamnolongerneeded--it
wouldn'tbenecessaryformetostay--andImightjustaswell
leave.

MR.X.No,youmaynot!--Sitdownthereatthetable,whereyou
satbefore,andwe'llhaveanothertalkbeforeyougo.

MR.Y.[Sitsdownafterhavingputonadarkcoat]Whatareyouup
tonow?

MR.X.[LookingintothemirrorbackofMR.Y.]Oh,nowIhaveit!
Oh-h-h!

MR.Y.[Alarmed]Whatkindofwonderfulthingsareyoudiscovering
now?

MR.X.Iseeinthemirrorthatyouareathief--aplain,ordinary
thief!Amomentago,whileyouhadonlythewhiteshirton,I
couldnoticethattherewassomethingwrongaboutmybook-shelf.I
couldn'tmakeoutjustwhatitwas,forIhadtolistentoyouand
watchyou.Butasmyantipathyincreased,myvisionbecamemore
acute.Andnow,withyourblackcoattofurnishtheneededcolor
contrastFortheredbackofthebook,whichbeforecouldn'tbe
seenagainsttheredofyoursuspenders--nowIseethatyouhave
beenreadingaboutforgeriesinBernheim'sworkonmental
suggestion--foryouturnedthebookupsidedowninputtingitback.
Soeventhatstoryofyourswasstolen!FortinsreasonIthink
myselfentitledtoconcludethatyourcrimemusthavebeen
promptedbyneed,orbymereloveofpleasure.

MR.Y.Byneed!Ifyouonlyknew--

MR.X.IfYOUonlyknewtheextentoftheneedIhavehadtoface
andlivethrough!Butthat'sanotherstory!Let'sproceedwith
yourcase.Thatyouhavebeeninprison--Itakethatforgranted.
ButithappenedinAmerica,foritwasAmericanprisonlifeyou
described.Anotherthingmayalsobetakenforgranted,namely,
thatyouhavenotborneyourpunishmentonthisside.

MR.Y.Howcanyouimagineanythingofthekind?

MR.X.Waituntilthesheriffgetshere,andyou'lllearnall
aboutit.

(MR.Y.getsup.)

ME.X.Thereyousee!ThefirsttimeImentionedthesheriff,in
connectionwiththestorm,youwantedalsotorunaway.Andwhena
personhasservedouthistimehedoesn'tcaretovisitanold
milleverydayjusttolookataprison,ortostandbythe
window--inaword,youareatoncepunishedandunpunished.And
that'swhyitwassohardtomakeyouout.[Pause.]

MR.Y.[Completelybeaten]MayIgonow?

MR.X.Nowyoucango.

MR.Y.[Puttinghisthingstogether]Areyouangryatme?

MR.X.Yes--wouldyouprefermetopityyou?

MR.Y.[Sulkily]Pity?Doyouthinkyou'reanybetterthanI?

MR.X.OfcourseIdo,asIAMbetterthanyou.Iamwiser,andI
amlessofamenacetoprevailingpropertyrights.

MR.Y.Youthinkyouareclever,butperhapsIamascleveras
you.Forthemomentyouhavemechecked,butinthenextmoveI
canmateyou--allthesame!

MR.X.[LookinghardatMR.Y.]Sowehavetohaveanotherbout!
Whatkindofmischiefareyouuptonow?

MR.Y.That'smysecret.

MR.X.Justlookatme--oh,youmeantowritemywifeananonymous
lettergivingawayMYsecret!

MR.Y.Well,howareyougoingtopreventit?Youdon'tdareto
havemearrested.Soyou'llhavetoletmego.AndwhenIamgone,
IcandowhatIplease.

MR.X.Youdevil!Soyouhavefoundmyvulnerablespot!Doyou
wanttomakearealmurdereroutofme?

MR.Y.That'smorethanyou'lleverbecome--coward!

MR.X.Thereyouseehowdifferentpeopleare.Youhaveafeeling
thatIcannotbecomeguiltyofthesamekindofactsasyou.And
thatgivesyoutheupperhand.Butsupposeyouforcedmetotreat
youasItreatedthatcoachman?

[HeliftshishandasifreadytohitMR.Y.]

MR.Y.[StaringMR.X.straightintheface]Youcan't!It'stoo
muchforonewhocouldn'tsavehimselfbymeansoftheboxover
there.

ME.X.Soyoudon'tthinkIhavetakenanythingoutofthebox?

MR.Y.Youweretoocowardly--justasyouweretoocowardlyto
tellyourwifethatshehadmarriedamurderer.

MR.X.YouareadifferentmanfromwhatItookyoutobe--if
strongerorweaker,Icannottell--ifmorecriminalorless,
that'snoneofmyconcern--butdecidedlymorestupid;thatmuchis
quiteplain.Forstupidyouwerewhenyouwroteanotherperson's
nameinsteadofbegging--asIhavehadtodo.Stupidyouwerewhen
youstolethingsoutofmybook--couldyounotguessthatImight
havereadmyownbooks?Stupidyouwerewhenyouthoughtyourself
clevererthanme,andwhenyouthoughtthatIcouldbeluredinto
becomingathief.Stupidyouwerewhenyouthoughtbalancecould
berestoredbygivingtheworldtwothievesinsteadofone.But
moststupidofallyouwerewhenyouthoughtIhadfailedto
provideasafecorner-stoneformyhappiness.Goaheadandwrite
mywifeasmanyanonymouslettersasyoupleaseaboutherhusband
havingkilledaman--sheknewthatlongbeforeweweremarried!--
Haveyouhadenoughnow?

MR.Y.MayIgo?

MR.X.NowyouHAVEtogo!Andatonce!I'llsendyourthings
afteryou!--Getoutofhere!

(Curtain.)