A horrible change suddenly came over Girshel. Instead of the ordinary
timorous alarm peculiar to the Jewish nature, in his face was reflected
the horrible agony that comes before death. He writhed like a wild beast
trapped, his mouth stood open, there was a hoarse rattle in his throat,
he positively leapt up and down, convulsively moving his elbows. He had
on only one slipper; they had forgotten to put the other on again... his
gown fell open... his cap had fallen off....

We all shuddered; the general stopped speaking.

'Your Excellency,' I began again, 'pardon this wretched creature.'

'Impossible! It is the law,' the general replied abruptly, and not
without emotion, 'for a warning to others.'

'For pity's sake....'

'Mr. Cornet, be so good as to return to your post,' said the general,
and he motioned me imperiously to the door.

I bowed and went out. But seeing that in reality I had no post anywhere,
I remained at no great distance from the general's house.

Two minutes later Girshel made his appearance, conducted by Siliavka and
three soldiers. The poor Jew was in a state of stupefaction, and could
hardly move his legs. Siliavka went by me to the camp, and soon returned
with a rope in his hands. His coarse but not ill-natured face wore a
look of strange, exasperated commiseration. At the sight of the rope the
Jew flung up his arms, sat down, and burst into sobs. The soldiers stood
silently about him, and stared grimly at the earth. I went up to