And as if he had only now realised the horror of it, he was suddenly seized by an endless despair, together with a strange fear, and he began to run straight down the street, too terrified to look behind him. He ran across the Augarten Bridge, and turned right at the police station, where he suddenly had the insane idea of going in and asking for protection and help. But he immediately abandoned this idea. ‘Not the police!’ he said aloud, and continued running. At the entrance to a little side street he saw light in the distance, above a hotel door, and it occurred to him that he might be able to find refuge there. He went up and rang the bell loudly.