It seemed to me that I had at last fallen in love, but then I saw that it was an involuntary falsehood, and that that was not the way to love, and I could not go on, but she did.

Am I to blame that I couldn't?
What was I to do ?' 'Well, it's ended now!' said his friend, lighting a cigar to master his sleepiness.

'The fact is that you have not yet loved and do not know what love is.' The man in the fur-lined coat was going to speak again, and put his hands to his head, but could not express what he wanted to say.
'Never loved! ...

Yes, quite true, I never have! But after all, I have within me a desire to love, and nothing could be stronger than that desire! But then, again, does such love exist?
There always remains something incomplete.

Ah well! What's the use of talking?
I've made an awful mess of life! But anyhow it's all over now; you are quite right.
And I feel that I am beginning a new life.' 'Which you will again make a mess of,' said the man who lay on the sofa playing with his watch-key.