"No, not that either. My life has not been good enough. Misfortune
should be forgotten rather than recorded. No, I think I can write
something else," stated Konrad.

"You shall have writing materials," said the judge. "And is there
anything else? A more comfortable bed?"

"No, thank you. It's right enough as it is. If a hard bed was the
only thing----"

"And is everything kept properly neat and clean?" interrupted the judge.

"If you're always waiting and thinking, 'Now, now, they're coming!' I
tell you, sir, you don't sleep well," replied Konrad.

"Don't keep worrying yourself with ideas, Ferleitner," said the judge
warningly to the man, who had again worked himself up into a state of
excitement. "Not one of us knows what the next hour may bring, and yet
we live on calmly. Use the time," he continued playfully, "in avenging
your condemnation by some great literary work. In olden times great
minds often did it."

"I can't write a great work," answered Konrad. "And I've nothing to
avenge. I deserve death. But it's this waiting for it. The torments
of hell cannot be worse."

"We've nothing to do with hell. We've merely to think of the purgatory
in which we are placed. Let heaven, as they say, follow. Haven't you
any business to arrange? Nothing to settle for anyone?" asked the
judge.