VII

fellow-creatures, for instance, or anything else that is thought most shocking and dreadful in this world⁠—what a dilemma my judges would be in, with a criminal who only has a fortnight to live in any case, now that the rack and other forms of torture are abolished! Why, I should die comfortably in their own hospital⁠—in a warm, clean room, with an attentive doctor⁠—probably much more comfortably than I should at home. “I don’t understand why people in my position do not oftener indulge in such ideas⁠—if only for a joke! Perhaps they do! Who knows! There are plenty of merry souls among us! “But though I do not recognize any jurisdiction over myself, still I know that I shall be judged, when I am nothing but a voiceless lump of clay; therefore I do not wish to go before I have left a word of reply⁠—the reply of a free man⁠—not one forced to justify himself⁠—oh no! I have no need to ask forgiveness of anyone. I wish to say a word merely because I happen to desire it of my own free will. “Here, in the first place, comes a strange thought! “Who, in the name of what Law, would think of disputing my full personal right over the fortnight of life left to me? What jurisdiction can be brought to bear upon the case? Who would wish me, not only to be sentenced, but to endure the sentence to the end? Surely there exists no man who would wish such a thing⁠—why should anyone desire it? For the sake of morality? Well, I can understand that if I were to make an attempt upon my own life while in the