"Eh, I'm not such a
fool, but I know how to talk with a man. And it's not my way to be
contrary neither. 'You know a thing or two, Grindhusen,' says the
Inspector, 'and there's two Kroner for you,' says he. Ay, that's what he
said. And if you don't believe me, why, here's the money, and you can see.
There!"
"But what was it all about?" asked several voices at once.
"He'd better not say, if you ask me," I said.
It struck me that the engineer must have been miserable and desperate when
he sent me to fetch Grindhusen. He was so little used to trouble that the
moment anything went wrong he felt the need of some one to confide in. And
now when he was going about day after day, thoroughly disheartened and
full of pity for himself, as if he wanted to know how miserable he was at
being checked in his play. This sportsman, with his figure moulded in the
wrong place, was a travesty of youth, a Spartan in tears. What sort of
upbringing could his have been?
Ah, well, if he had been an old man I had found reason and excuse for him
enough; if the truth were known, it was perhaps but hatred of his youth
that moved me now.
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