is
brought within certain boundaries, for instance, when it is enclosed
within a square?"

When I recalled that at the sight of a wide open window, which was not
protected by bars, or of the sky, I had usually experienced a desire
to fly, which was painful because of its uselessness and absurdity--I
suddenly began to experience a feeling of tenderness for the bars;
tender gratitude, even love. Forged by hand, by the weak human hand of
some ignorant blacksmith, who did not even give himself an account of
the profound meaning of his creation; placed in the wall by an equally
ignorant mason, it suddenly represented in itself a model of beauty,
nobility and power. Having seized the infinite within its iron squares,
it became congealed in cold and proud peace, frightening the ignorant,
giving food for thought to the intelligent and delighting the sage!

CHAPTER IV

In order to make the further narrative clearer to my indulgent reader,
I am compelled to say a few words about the exclusive, quite flattering,
and, I fear, not entirely deserved, position which I occupy in our
prison. On one hand, my spiritual clearness, my rare and perfect view of
life, and the nobility of my feelings, which impress all those who speak
to me; and, on the other hand, several rather unimportant favours which
I have done to the Warden, have given me a series of privileges, of
which I avail myself, rather moderately, of course, not desiring to
upset the general plan and system of our prison.

Thus, during the weekly visiting days, my visitors are not limited to
any special time for their interviews, and all those who wish to see me
are admitted, sometimes forming quite a large audience. Not daring to
accept altogether the assurances made somewhat ironically by the Warden,
to the effect that I would be "the pride of any prison," I may say,
nevertheless, without any false modesty, that my words are treated with
proper respect, and that among my visitors I number quite a few warm
and enthusiastic admirers, both men and women. I shall mention that the
Warden himself and some of his assistants honour me by their visits,
drawing from me strength and courage for the purpose of continuing
their hard work. Of course I use the prison library freely, and even the
archives of the prison; and if the Warden politely refused to grant my
request for an exact plan of the prison, it is not at all because of his
lack of confidence in me, but because such a p