else--I would have told it to you. I would have told you that
omnipotent law reigns over that which you call non-existence and death
just as it reigns over that which you call life and existence. Only the
fools, dying, believe that they have made an end of themselves--they
have ended but one form of themselves, in order to assume another form
immediately.

Thus I reflected, laughing at the foolish suicide, the ridiculous
destroyer of the fetters of eternity. And this is what I said addressing
myself to my two silent roommates hanging motionlessly on the white wall
of my cell:

"I believe and confess that our prison is immortal. What do you say to
this, my friends?"

But they were silent. And having burst into good-natured laughter--What
quiet roommates I have! I undressed slowly and gave myself to peaceful
sleep. In my dream I saw another majestic prison, and wonderful jailers
with white wings on their backs, and the Chief Warden of the prison
himself. I do not remember whether there were any little windows in the
doors or not, but I think there were. I recall that something like
an angel's eye was fixed upon me with tender attention and love. My
indulgent reader will, of course, guess that I am jesting. I did not
dream at all. I am not in the habit of dreaming.

Without hoping that the Warden, occupied with pressing official affairs,
would understand me thoroughly and appreciate my idea concerning the
impossibility of escaping from our prison, I confined myself, in my
report, to an indication of several ways in which suicides could be
averted. With magnanimous shortsightedness peculiar to busy and trusting
people, the Warden failed to notice the weak points of my project and
clasped my hand warmly, expressing to me his gratitude in the name of
our entire prison.

On that day I had the honour, for the first time, to drink a glass of
tea at the home of the Warden, in the presence of his kind wife and
charming children, who called me "Grandpa." Tears of emotion which
gathered in my eyes could but faintly express the feelings that came
over me.

At the request of the Warden's wife, who took a deep interest in me,
I related in detail the story of the tragic murders which led me so
unexpectedly and so terribly to the prison. I could not find expressions
strong enough--there are no expressions strong enough in the human
language--to brand adequately the unknown criminal, who not only
murdered three helpless people, bu