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at the bottom, the upper part of the walls and the ceiling are white,
and near the ceiling there is a square window 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 yards, with
a massive iron grate, which has already become rusty with age. In the
door, locked with a heavy and strong lock, which issues a loud creak at
each turn of the key, there is a small hole for observation, and below
it a little window, through which the food is brought and received.
The furnishing of the cell: a table, a chair, and a cot fastened to the
wall; on the wall a crucifix, my portrait, and the rules concerning the
conduct of the prisoners, in a black frame; and in the corner a closet
filled with books. This last, being a violation of the strict harmony
of my dwelling, I was compelled to do by extreme and sad necessity;
the jailer positively refused to be my librarian and to bring the books
according to my order, and to engage a special librarian seemed to me to
be an act of unnecessary eccentricity. Aside from this, in elaborating
my plans, I met with strong opposition not only from the local
population, which simply declared me to be insane, but even from
the enlightened people. Even the Warden endeavoured for some time to
dissuade me, but finally he clasped my hand warmly, with an expression
of sincere regret at not being in a position to offer me a place in our
prison.

I cannot recall the first day of my confinement without a bitter smile.
A mob of impertinent and ignorant idlers yelled from morning till night
at my window, with their heads lifted high (my cell is situated in the
second story), and they heaped upon me senseless abuse; there were even
efforts--to the disgrace of my townspeople--to storm my dwelling, and
one heavy stone almost crushed my head. Only the police, which arrived
in time, succeeded in averting the catastrophe. When, in the evening,
I went out for a walk, hundreds of fools, adults and children, followed
me, shouting and whistling, heaping abuse upon me, and even hurling mud
at me. Thus, like a persecuted prophet, I wended my way without fear
amidst the maddened crowd, answering their blows and curses with proud
silence.

What has stirred these fools? In what way have I offended their empty
heads? When I lied to them, they kissed my hands; now, when I have
re-established the sacred truth of my life in all its strictness and
purity, they burst into curses, they branded me with contempt, they
hurled mud at me. They were disturbed because I d