“The three or four hours went by, of course, in necessary preparations⁠—the priest, breakfast, (coffee, meat, and some wine they gave him; doesn’t it seem ridiculous?) And yet I believe these people give them a good breakfast out of pure kindness of heart, and believe that they are doing a good action. Then he is dressed, and then begins the procession through the town to the scaffold. I think he, too, must feel that he has an age to live still while they cart him along. Probably he thought, on the way, ‘Oh, I have a long, long time yet. Three streets of life yet! When we’ve passed this street there’ll be that other one; and then that one where the baker’s shop is on the right; and when shall we get there? It’s ages, ages!’ Around him are crowds shouting, yelling⁠—10,000 faces, 20,000 eyes. All this has to be endured, and especially the thought: ‘Here are 10,000 men, and not one of them is going to be executed, and yet I am to die.’ Well, all that is preparatory.