"Both laws, as I said, demand the sacrifice of everything—they compel a poor man to sacrifice his so-called honour. It's cruel, but you can't blame the poor man for it."
"Your theory of life is anything but cheerful."
"How could it be otherwise?"
"That's true!"
"But to talk of something else: I've had a letter from Rehnhjelm. I'll read it to you, if you like."
"I heard he had gone on the stage."
"Yes, and he doesn't seem to be having a good time of it."
Ygberg took a letter from his breast-pocket, put a piece of sugar into his mouth and began to read.
"If there is a hell in a life after this, which is very doubtful...."
"The lad's become a free-thinker!"