"A man's life is always a failure in as much as he dies."
"Yes, when he dies too soon," exlaims Pierre.
"He always dies too soon -- or too late."
"Well, I didn't, I tell you. I didn't!"
The laughter and the mockery of the rest of the dead are redoubled at this. But Pierre standing in their midst defies them.
"I have organized the insurrection against that marionette. It will burst tomorrow. My life was not a failure. I am happy, I am gay and not like you. I don't want to be one of you..."
He starts toward the door, then changing his mind retraces his steps and, in the midst of the sneering dead adds:
"You are not only dead, but your morale is terrible."