la_ admitted you.

GLYSZINSKI. That is what I was going to say. Upon Hella's express
invitation ...

PAUL. Correct.

GLYSZINSKI. Indeed I may say upon her wish ...

PAUL. Also correct.

GLYSZINSKI. I came into your house.

PAUL. That was very kind of you.

GLYSZINSKI. And so I can leave it only upon her invitation. Not before!
I should be offending Hella, and that I cannot take upon myself. I
revere her too much for that.

PAUL (cutting). Sensitive soul that you are!

GLYSZINSKI. Of course my views may not agree with all the conventional
rules of society, but there are still other, higher duties.

PAUL (amused). And _you_ honor them?

GLYSZINSKI (casting a piercing look at PAUL). Yes, it is my duty to
protect Hella.

PAUL. Protect Hella?... (He gets up.) Do you know! One is impelled to
feel sorry for you! (He turns away and walks through the hall.)

GLYSZINSKI. Well!

PAUL. Yes, you have no idea how far you are off the track. That's the
reason.

GLYSZINSKI. Thanks for your sympathy!

PAUL. You are badly off the track, and will hardly get on again, unless
you are warned in time. Whether or not that will do you any good, is
your affair.

GLYSZINSKI (agitated). But what does all of this mean? I don't
understand you.

PAUL (very seriously). In a word, that means: look out for women who
are like Hella! Look out for that ilk! That tells the whole story! The
whole story!

GLYSZINSKI (jumps up). And you expect me to follow that advice?

PAUL. Do not follow it, but don't be surprised later on if you find
yourself in the position in which I am today. It has taken me ten to
twelve years to arrive at it. Half of that time will suffice for you.

GLYSZINSKI. Why that is sheer nonsense! Your position is estimable
enough.

PAUL. I am a bankrupt! That's all!

GLYSZINSKI (greatly excited). Imagination, pure imagination! You have
your position! You have a name in the movement!

PAUL (bitterly). Oh yes! This movement!

GLYSZINSKI. I wish I were that far along!

PAUL. Possibly you are, without knowing it. But as for myself, when I
was of your age and began to fly the track, the aforesaid _track_, I
was quite another fellow! Today as I rode through the snow knee-deep,
that became quite clear to me! I saw myself as I had been once upon a
time and then realized what had later become of me! All the strength!
All the life! All the color! All lost! All gone!... Colorless and
commonplace! That is the outcome! (