misery of living under such tyranny. When a boy I once killed a dog
that bit some poor people's children in the street. A dog belonging to
gentlefolk! I was whipped, but it scarcely hurt--there was always in
my mind; 'You freed them from the beast!' And I felt just the same
about the Society. I can't tell you what went on in me. I'm all
bewildered. Everything was laid bare at the trial, the whole horrible
story. Only I said yes with hundreds of others, I said it and thought:
it won't come to me. And it did come to me, as if our Lord had not
wished it otherwise. To me, the lot fell to me, when we drew."

"I know the story, my poor fellow," said the monk.

"I don't," retorted Konrad. "From the moment they took the revolver
out of my hand everything has been dark. I have known nothing. I only
heard to-day that he lives. And they told me----"

"What did they tell you?"

"That I must die." Then violently addressing the priest: "It was a
misfortune. Is it really so great a crime? Tell me."

"I don't think I need tell you that."

"Very well, then. So it serves me right. I desired to do the deed,
and they say that's the same as the accomplishment of it. Quite
correct. Isn't it 'A life for a life'? It is written so in the Bible.
Just that, no more. They must take mine. But--they must do it
unexpectedly, suddenly. Just as I meant to do to him. Otherwise it
won't be fair. Tell me, holy Father, is it cowardly to be so
terrified? I am so terrified--of what is before me. There's nothing