“He had been trying during those days not to think about it, had dismissed oppressive ideas; but what lay hidden in that soul? The thought had worried him for a long time, though he had faith in that soul. And now all this must be settled and revealed that day. An awful thought! And again - 'that woman!' Why did it always seem to him that that woman was bound to appear at the last moment, and tear asunder his fate like a rotten thread?

That it had always seemed so he was ready to swear now, though he was almost delirious. If he had tried to forget 'her' of late, it was simply because he was afraid of her. Did he love that woman or hate her? He had not put that question to himself once that day. His heart was clear on one point: he knew whom he loved...”