The famous physicist Olivier Loos compares his life with that of the loafer Tobias Vlek, heknows from his youth. As time goes by his appreciation for Tobias Vlek grows, realizing howhe had failed in meeting his own expectations. His opposition against Albert Einstein met resistancewith settled reputes and damaged his career. Therefore he chose for safer subjects dueto sense of duty for his family. The adventurous life of Tobias Vlek appeals more and more tohis imagination. Less welcome steps in love affairs fade; being a debauchee takes on a heroicsignificance. Without Tobias Vlek the world wouldn’t be the same and Judith Cannemeijer, awoman he worshipped in his youth, should have fallen into a bitter fate.