Портрет художника в юности

           Thepriestenteredtheboxandwashidden.Twopenitentsroseandenteredtheconfessionalateitherside.Thewoodenslidewasdrawnbackandthefaintmurmurofavoicetroubledthesilence.

           Hisbloodbegantomurmurinhisveins,murmuringlikeasinfulcitysummonedfromitssleeptohearitsdoom.Littleflakesoffirefellandpowderyashesfellsoftly,alightingonthehousesofmen.Theystirred,wakingfromsleep,troubledbytheheatedair.

           Theslidewasshotback.Thepenitentemergedfromthesideofthebox.Thefarthersidewasdrawn.Awomanenteredquietlyanddeftlywherethefirstpenitenthadknelt.Thefaintmurmurbeganagain.

           Hecouldstillleavethechapel.Hecouldstandup,putonefootbeforetheotherandwalkoutsoftlyandthenrun,run,runswiftlythroughthedarkstreets.Hecouldstillescapefromtheshame.Haditbeenanyterriblecrimebutthatonesin!Haditbeenmurder!Littlefieryflakesfellandtouchedhimatallpoints,shamefulthoughts,shamefulwords,shamefulacts.Shamecoveredhimwhollylikefineglowingashesfallingcontinually.Tosayitinwords!Hissoul,stiflingandhelpless,wouldceasetobe.

           Theslidewasshotback.Apenitentemergedfromthefarthersideofthebox.Thenearslidewasdrawn.Apenitententeredwheretheotherpenitenthadcomeout.Asoftwhisperingnoisefloatedinvaporouscloudletsoutofthebox.Itwasthewoman:softwhisperingcloudlets,softwhisperingvapour,whisperingandvanishing.