In the quest after some fantastic beauty he light-mindedly passed by the true beauties with which the human soul is filled.

I cannot help feeling sorry for those unfortunate people who, like K., because of a peculiar construction of their brains, always turn their eyes toward the dark side, whereas there is so much joy and light in our prison! When I said this to K.I heard, to my regret, the same stereotyped and indecent answer: "The devil take it!" All I could do was to shrug my shoulders.

Suddenly changing his tone and bearing, the artist turned to me seriously with a question which, in my opinion, was also indecent: "Why do you lie, old man ?" I was astonished, of course.
"I lie ?" "Well, let it be the truth, if you like, but why?
I am looking and thinking.

Why did you say that?
Why ?" My indulgent reader, who knows well what the truth has cost me, will readily understand my profound indignation.

I deliberately mention this audacious and other calumnious phrases to show in what an atmosphere of malice, distrust, and disrespect I have to plod along the hard road of suffering.