The honored hermit
When the reader finally learns more about the stranger and his relationship to this hermit, General Henrik, an ironic aspect of Henrik's character becomes obvious. Although he lives like a hermit up in his castle, he is actually a man with some accomplishment. This raises the readers curiosity. Why is this General, a war hero, a man with zeal and accomplishment, living in such a detached manner, as if her were dishonored?
The familiar stranger
If anyone might know the answer to Henrik's complex character, it is this familiar stranger who Henrik invites to dinner. Who should it be but Konrad, Henrik's childhood friend and foil, the one who took the paths in life that Henrik didn't. Although there is much tension in their strained relationship, both men are actually quite glad to have company, and Henrik knows without a doubt that his hope for redemption has to do with righting his relationship to this stranger.
Dramatic irony and conflict
The conflict between these old friends is obvious right away. Their relationship is packed with dramatic irony. They have an entire life's worth of conflict stored away by years of separation, and as they reminisce, the reader's tension builds. Sometimes they come close to describing their conflict, but instead, they dance around it, using little prods and jabs that are like hints to the reader for the revelation that comes at the end of the book.
The apology
Henrik wants an apology, but for what? The reader isn't sure, and Konrad plays on that plausible deniability by asking Henrik to be more specific. In reality Konrad knows what Henrik is talking about, but the apology is also the dramatic domain of an honor game. Not only does Henrik want an apology, he wants to exchange honor frmo Konrad for some ancient slight. Again, this is dramatic because the reader doesn't know what the apology would be for, or whether Konrad is even guilty of anything.
The ironic truth
When the truth is revealed, these macho men and their high sense of respect is shown to be a front. In reality, the slight between them is mild in nature, but very emotionally intimate. Although Konrad knew that Henrik was sensitive and had low self-esteem, Konrad still flirted with Krisztina, Henrik's wife, which sent Henrik on a paranoid spiral that ended his marriage. The ironic truth is that Henrik wants Konrad to apologize for Henrik's own emotional sensitivities. He divorced his wife for almost nothing and held Konrad in contempt for it.
