Onthestairsherememberedthathewasleavingallthethingsjustastheywereintheholeinthewall,“andverylikely,it\'sonpurposetosearchwhenI\'mout,“hethought,andstoppedshort。Buthewaspossessedbysuchdespair,suchcynicismofmisery,ifonemaysocallit,thatwithawaveofhishandhewenton。“Onlytogetitover！”
Inthestreettheheatwasinsufferableagain;notadropofrainhadfallenallthosedays。Againdust,bricks,andmortar,againthestenchfromtheshopsandpot-houses,againthedrunkenmen,theFinnishpedlarsandhalf-broken-downcabs。Thesunshonestraightinhiseyes,sothatithurthimtolookoutofthem,andhefelthisheadgoinground-asamaninafeverisapttofeelwhenhecomesoutintothestreetonabrightsunnyday。
Whenhereachedtheturningintothestreet,inanagonyoftrepidationhelookeddownit……atthehouse……andatonceavertedhiseyes。
“Iftheyquestionme,perhapsI\'llsimplytell,“hethought,ashedrewnearthepolicestation。
Thepolicestationwasaboutaquarterofamileoff。Ithadlatelybeenmovedtonewroomsonthefourthfloorofanewhouse。