y my face carefully and fail to find any
marks of wickedness. My eyes are clear and beautiful, my skin is
remarkably free from lines. I am in splendid health, I eat well,
sleep well, and enjoy life. My nerves are absolutely steady. I have
never felt the slightest twinge of remorse. I have a keen sense of
humor. I look five years younger than I am and ten years younger
than men who have drudged virtuously and uncomplainingly on the
"Thy-will-be-done" plan. I am certainly a better man, better
looking, better feeling, stronger in every way than I was before I
committed this crime. It is absolute nonsense, therefore, to say
that sin or crime (I mean intelligent sin or crime) put an ugly
stamp on a man. The ugly stamp comes from bad health, bad
surroundings, bad conditions of life, and these can usually be
changed by money. _Which I have!_

V

Last night (July 4th) I shot a man (Martinez) at the Ansonia Hotel.
I observed my sensations carefully and must say that they were of a
most commonplace character. There was no danger in the adventure,
nothing difficult about it; in fact, it was far less exciting than
shooting moose in the Maine woods or tracking grizzlies in the
Rockies or going after tigers in India. There is really nothing so
tame as shooting a man!

VI

There is no necessary connection between crime and vice. Some of
the most vicious men--I mean gluttons, drunkards, degenerates, drug
fiends, etc. have never committed any crimes of importance. On the
other hand, I am satisfied that great criminals are usually free
from vices. It must be so, for vices weaken the will and dull the
brain. I take a little wine at my meals, but never to excess, and I
never was drunk in my life. I smoke three or four cigars a day and
occasionally a cigarette, that is all. And I never gamble. No doubt
there are vicious criminals, but they would probably have been
vicious if they had not been criminals.

VII

I have the most tremendous admiration for myself, for my courage,
for my intelligence, for the use I have made of my opportunities. I
started as the son of a broken-down nobleman, my material assets
being a trumpery title. My best chance was to marry one of the vain
and shallow rich women of America, and by many brilliant maneuvers
in a most difficult and delicate campaign, I succeeded in marrying
the very ri