Page:Garshin - A Red Flower (1911).djvu/36

34 cried the madman, stifled. "You are perishing! I saw the bud of a third one yesterday. Now it is ready. Allow me to finish the deed! It must be killed! killed! killed! Then all will be done, all will be saved. I would send you to do it, but this only I alone could do. You would die from contact alone."

"Be quiet, man, be quiet!" said the old watchman, remaining on duty near the bed.

The madman suddenly became silent. He had determined to deceive the watchman. He was kept bound the entire day, and was left in the same condition for the night. Having given him his supper, the watchman lay down to sleep on the floor, close to the bed of the patient. It was no longer than a minute before he fell into a deep slumber, but the madman began to work.

Bending his whole body so as to come in contact with the iron beam of the bed, and having found it finally by feeling with the hand hid in the long sleeve, he began to rub the latter rapidly and forcibly against the iron. After some time, the thick cloth gave way, and he succeeded in freeing his index finger. Then the work went on with more speed. With a dexterity and a suppleness, unusual for the ordinary man, he untied