 justice? He looked at the man
before him with such an intensity of prolonged glance that he seemed to see
right through him, that at last he saw but a floating and unsteady mist in human
shape. Would it blow away before the first breath of the breeze and leave
nothing behind?
    The sound of Willems' voice made him start violently. Willems was saying -
    »I have always led a virtuous life; you know I have. You always praised me
for my steadiness; you know you have. You know also I never stole - if that's
what you're thinking of. I borrowed. You know how much I repaid. It was an error
of judgment. But then consider my position there. I had been a little unlucky in
my private affairs, and had debts. Could I let myself go under before the eyes
of all those men who envied me? But that's all over. It was an error of
judgment. I've paid for it. An error of judgment.«
    Lingard, astounded into perfect stillness, looked down. He looked down at
Willems' bare feet. Then, as the other had paused, he repeated in a blank tone -
    »An error of judgment ...«
    »Yes,« drawled out Willems, thoughtfully, and went on with increasing
animation: »As I said, I have always led a virtuous life. More so than Hudig -
than you. Yes, than you. I drank a little, I played cards a little. Who doesn't?
But I had principles from a boy. Yes, principles. Business is business, and I
never was an ass. I never respected fools. They had to suffer for their folly
when they dealt with me. The evil was in them, not in me. But as to principles,
it's another matter. I kept clear of women. It's forbidden - I had no time - and
I despised them. Now I hate them!«
    He put his tongue out a little; a tongue whose pink and moist end ran here
and there, like something independently alive, under his swollen and blackened
lip; he touched with the tips of his fingers the cut on his cheek, felt all
round it with precaution: and the unharmed side of his face appeared for a
moment to be preoccupied and uneasy about the state of that other side which was
so very sore and stiff.
    He recommenced speaking, and his voice vibrated as though with repressed
emotion of some kind.
    »You ask my wife, when you see
