in Karlsruhe...

I shall close my eyes." Karmazinov was gradually becoming maudlin.
Like many of our great writers (and there are numbers of them amongst us), he could not resist praise, and began to be limp at once, in spite of his penetrating wit.

But I consider this is pardonable.

They say that one of our Shakespeares positively blurted out in private conversation that "we _great men_ can't do otherwise," and so on, and, what's more, was unaware of it.
"There in Karlsruhe I shall close my eyes.

When we have done our duty, all that's left for us great men is to make haste to close our eyes without seeking a reward.