"No one, no one!" Konrad assured him.

"That's a piece of luck that many of your comrades in misfortune would
envy you. A man can settle things easily for himself alone. If it's
any consolation, Ferleitner, I may tell you that we don't regard you as
a scoundrel, only as a poor creature who has been led astray. Now
that's enough for the present. Your modest request shall be granted at
once."

After this remarkable conversation with the poor sinner, the judge left
the cell. He was not satisfied. Had he not listened enough, or had he
spoken too much? How could so childlike a creature take an oath to
commit murder? In the corridor he spoke seriously to the gaoler.

"I must point out to you that the man is very ill. Don't treat him
harshly."

The old man was annoyed.

"I beg your pardon, sir! To treat a poor devil like that harshly! If
you pity him, why were you so rough with him?" He rubbed a lamp-glass
with a coarse rag in order to get the black off. "'To die by hanging.'
Even said as gently as that, it hurts more than when we roundly abuse
the people, and yet that's at once taken amiss. Only to prove it.
Ill! Of course he's ill, poor devil. I am only surprised the doctors
haven't been to cure him. I suppose he's well enough to be hanged?"

"That will do, Trapser."