I wished very much to enlighten K in such matters. It was a given, however, that he would only challenge my thoughts. No doubt, I reckoned, he would call up examples of great personages past. I on my part, then, would be compelled to point out that he and they were not the same. If he were amenable to such an idea, then that would be the end of it. Given his nature, though, having argued thus far he would not back down. He would push it further. He would shore up his words with actions. He would show himself a formidable man, not to be taken lightly. He would carry forward to his own detriment. In the end, he would only prevail in securing his own demise, but he would do so in grand fashion. Knowing his nature as I did, I had to hold my silence. Also, as I've noted before, from my perspective he seemed very close to a breakdown. If I did manage to argue him into submission, it would only serve to set him off. I wasn't one to shrink from a quarrel. However, when I thought back to my own situation, and the terrible isolation I'd felt, I was loathe to leave a close friend in such straits. I had no intention of pushing him further away. With this in mind, I refrained, even after he moved in with us, from doling out anything he might perceive as criticism. I held my tongue and simply observed, waiting to see the effects of his new surroundings.