What was I to do then?

Well, I could go to an hotel and get a bed!

But I really couldn't go to an hotel and get a bed; I had not money, I had
been out--in a cafe ... he knew....

We stood a while on the Town Hall steps. He considered and examined my
personal appearance. The rain fell in torrents outside.

"Well then, you must go to the guard-house and report yourself as
homeless!" said he.

Homeless? I hadn't thought of that. Yes, by Jove, that was a capital idea;
and I thanked the constable on the spot for the suggestion. Could I simply
go in and say I was homeless?

"Just that."...

* * * * *

"Your name?" inquired the guard.

"Tangen--Andreas Tangen!"

I don't know why I lied; my thoughts fluttered about disconnectedly and
inspired me with many singular whims, more than I knew what to do with. I
hit upon this out-of-the-way name on the spur of the moment, and blurted
it out without any calculation. I lied without any occasion for doing so.