MS-HRC-DA-145-1

[3097] Or for night to fall. [3098] (pause) [3099] We have kept our
appointment, and that's that. [3100] We are not saints,
but we have kept our appointment. [3101] How many
people can boast as much?

[3102] M^Billions.

[3103] You think so?

[3104] I don't know.

[3105] You may be right.

[3106] Help!

[3107] What's certain is that the hours are long, under
these conditions, and constrain us to beguile them
with proceedings which, how shall I say, which may
at first sight seem reasonable to those less
familiar with them than ourselves. ^{until they become a habit} [3108] You may say
it is to prevent our reason from foundering. [3109] No
doubt. [3110] But has it not long been straying in the
night without end of the abyssal depths? That's
what I sometimes wonder. [3111] You follow my reasoning?

[3111|001] (Aphoristic) [3112] We are all born mad. [3113] Some remain so.

[3114] Help! I'll pay you!

[3115] How much?

[3116] A hundred francs ^{Two shillings}!

[3117] It's not enough.

[3118] I wouldn't go so far as that.

[3119] You think it's enough?

[3120] No, I mean so far as to assert that I was weak in
the head when I came into the world. [3121] But that is
not the question.

[3122] Two hundred ^{Five shillings}!

[3123] We wait. [3124] We are bored. [3125] (he throws up his hand)
^[Down] [3126] No, don't protest, we are bored to extinction, ^death
there's no denying it. [3127] Good. [3128] A diversion turns
up and ^{comes along and} what do we do? [3129] We let it go to waste.
[3130] Come, let's get to work! [3131] (he advances towards
the heap, stops in his stride) [3132] In an instant all
will vanish and we'll be alone again, in the midst
of nothingness! [3133] (he broods)

[3134] Two hundred ^{Five shillings}!