But then he happened to touch old wounds—­that book, you know, and “the idiot”—­and I was seized with a wish to pick him to pieces, and to mix up these so thoroughly that they couldn’t be put together again—­and I succeeded, thanks to the painstaking way in which you had done the work of preparation.  Then I had to deal with you.  For you were the spring that had kept the works moving, and you had to be taken apart—­and what a buzzing followed!—­When I came in here, I didn’t know exactly what to say.  Like a chess-player, I had laid a number of tentative plans, of course, but my play had to depend on your moves.  One thing led to the other, chance lent me a hand, and finally I had you where I wanted you.—­Now you are caught!

Tekla.  No!

Gustav.  Yes, you are!  What you least wanted has happened.  The world at large, represented by two lady tourists—­whom I had not sent for, as I am not an intriguer—­the world has seen how you became reconciled to your former husband, and how you sneaked back repentantly into his faithful arms.  Isn’t that enough?

Tekla.  It ought to be enough for your revenge—­But tell me, how can you, who are so enlightened and so right-minded—­how is it possible that you, who think whatever happens must happen, and that all our actions are determined in advance—­

Gustav. [Correcting her] To a certain extent determined.

Tekla.  That’s the same thing!

Gustav.  No!

Tekla. [Disregarding him] How is it possible that you, who hold me guiltless, as I was driven by my nature and the circumstances into acting as I did—­how can you think yourself entitled to revenge—?

Gustav.  For that very reason—­for the reason that my nature and the circumstances drove me into seeking revenge.  Isn’t that giving both sides a square deal?  But do you know why you two had to get the worst of it in this struggle?

(Tekla looks scornful.)

Gustav.  And why you were doomed to be fooled?  Because I am stronger than you, and wiser also.  You have been the idiot—­and he!  And now you may perceive that a man need not be an idiot because he doesn’t write novels or paint pictures.  It might be well for you to bear this in mind.

Tekla.  Are you then entirely without feelings?

Gustav.  Entirely!  And for that very reason, you know, I am capable of thinking—­in which you have had no experience whatever-and of acting—­in which you have just had some slight experience.

Tekla.  And all this merely because I have hurt your vanity?

Gustav.  Don’t call that merely!  You had better not go around hurting other people’s vanity.  They have no more sensitive spot than that.

Tekla.  Vindictive wretch—­shame on you!

Gustav.  Dissolute wretch—­shame on you!

Tekla.  Oh, that’s my character, is it?