Chapter 4
The lucky man who escaped his suicide attempt was standing beside the dining room table when the doctor entered his apartment that evening. A detective story lay open on the tablecloth. But the night was closing in and it would have been difficult to read in the growing darkness.
Most likely he had been sitting musing in the twilight until he heard the ring at his door. The doctor asked how he was feeling; he sat down and replied rather grumpily that he was feeling tolerably well, adding that he’d feel still better if only he could be sure of being left in peace. Bentham remarked that one couldn’t always be alone.
“That’s not what I meant. I was thinking of people who take an interest in you only to make trouble for you.” When Bentham said nothing, he went on: “Mind you, that
