In favour of the theory of his madness the total uselessness of the deed he contemplated may be adduced; on the other hand the extremely consecutive and consistent nature of his thoughts and actions gives evidence of his sanity.
When he found himself a prisoner in Unorna's conservatory, his intention underwent no change though his body was broken with fatigue and his nerves with the long continued strain of a terrible excitement.

His determination was as cool and as fixed as ever.
These somewhat dry reflections seem necessary to the understanding of what followed.
The key turned in the lock and the bolt was slipped back.

Instantly Israel Kafka's energy returned.

He rose quickly and hid himself in the shrubbery, in a position from which he could observe the door.

He had seen Unorna enter before and had of course heard her cry before the Wanderer had carried her away, and he had believed that she had wished to face him, either with the intention of throwing herself upon his mercy or in the hope of dominating him with her eyes as she had so often done before.