He goes out into his small passage. Then he comes in again and lies down on the bed. It’s not for me. Everyone must know that. Why should I be warned?

He puts his hand on the wall. Feel – it’s quaking from all that hidden pressure. What’s the purpose of it all?

I must find another place to live. I must go into hiding so that I am able to work on what is important to me.

Now he never goes outside the door. No one has knocked on it since, but he lives in fear in case it should happen. He thinks more and more about the safe place he needs, but he must go out to search for it, and it is best not to go now. He does not visit Anna – he has no desire to do so. She looked at him so strangely the last time he was there; he knows very well what sort of gossip she’s been hearing. He can manage without her, he thinks scornfully. Besides, she will probably come here soon, if he doesn’t go to her. What does it matter anyway if she still has that look on her face, and most likely she has.

He tries to concentrate on his work with the false watermarks on stamps from all over the world – a pursuit he has specialized in, and written about at great length and very thoroughly, which has given him much pleasure, and which he is looking forward to showing to his colleagues when it is completed. How he would like to complete it! But now he is sitting here grappling with thoughts that he would rather be rid of.

Then at last there is a knock once more, not the three terrifying raps this time, but three familiar ones made by a woman. He thinks quickly that he could well do without this visit, since she probably still has that questioning look in her eyes – deserted as she is.

It is Anna.

‘Whatever’s the matter?’ is the first thing she says, before she is through the door.

‘With me?’

‘Yes, what do you think you look like?’

‘I’m working as hard as I can,’ he tells her, ‘I’m not concerned about my appearance. I have to work.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yes, whatever else may happen to me. It doesn’t do to think about that in these times.’

She looks at him as if she wanted to say: Who has given you permission to talk in that tone of voice? She does not say so aloud, but it touches him on the raw. He is well aware that he took something he had no right to take, but which this bloodthirsty creature in front of him seems to demand of him. He dislikes her.

She does not notice this at first. She had not really meant to say anything bitter. She comes from outside, and is taken up with what is happening outside. She has probably dropped in here in order to share the news.