human
By what means, he thought,
gpt
Gautran entered unobserved.
human
That is apparent, or he would not be lying here with the hand of Fate above him.
gpt
No person saw him--no person is aware that he is in your study, at your mercy.
human
At my mercy! You could have found a better word to express your meaning.
gpt
You know him to be a murderer.
human
True.
gpt
He deserves death! You have already heard the whisperings of the voice which urged you to fulfil the divine law, Blood for blood!
human
Speak not of what is Divine. Tempter, have you not the courage to come straight to the point?
gpt
Kill him where he lies! He will not be missed. It is night--black night. Every living being in the house, with the exception of yourself, is asleep. You have twisted justice from its rightful course. The wrong you did you can repair. Kill him where he lies!
human
And have the crime of murder upon my soul?
gpt
It is not murder. Standing as you are standing now, knowing what you know, you are justified.
human
I will have no juggling. If I kill him it is not in the cause of justice. Speak plainly. Why should he die at my hands?
gpt
His death is necessary for your safety.
human
Ah, that is better. No talk of justice now. We come to the coarse selfishness of things, which will justify the deadliest crimes. His death is necessary for my safety! How am I endangered? Say that his presence here is a threat. Am I not strong enough to avoid the peril? How vile am I that I should allow such thoughts to suggest themselves! Christian, my friend, whatever is the terror which has taken possession of you, and from which you vainly strive to fly, your secret is pure in comparison with mine. If it were possible that the secret which oppresses you concerned your dearest friend, concerned me, whom perchance it has in some hidden way wronged, how could I withhold from you pity and forgiveness, knowing how sorely my own actions need pity and forgiveness? For the first time in my life I am brought face to face with my soul, and I see how base it is. Has my life, then, been surrounded by dreams, and do I now awake to find how low and abominable are the inner workings of my nature? I must arouse this monster. He shall hide nothing from me.