Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/193

 Mr. Lamm thought it was a good thing that I was among them and not among the ones upstairs. He had quite a clear idea of what it would be like when he arrived upstairs.

"And believe me, if I were standing my trial before a real court, and they were to charge me with all these offences, should I not really know how to defend myself?" he added guilelessly.

"Well, fourteen days was nothing for that" laughed Mr. Fels.

And number 60 declared unanimously that similar proceedings could be carried out every Sunday.

We shall see.

Meanwhile, I sought to get to bed. I had been a little over-heated, now I was trembling with a chill. Papa Declich brought me his blanket with concern and wrapped me up.

I knew that in the afternoon he had found a louse, a real louse in it,—but I raised no protest, nor did I shudder with horror. It's all one. I was cold. "Grazie, Papa".

 

And again a new arrival in number 60.

A reddish little man,—reddish eyes, reddish hair, reddish face, reddish beard, reddish suit,—entered without a greeting, strolled through the room, sat down at the table, and as if he were at home, took out a tin of sardines and a slice of bread from the box and began to eat.

Dr. Povich-Rosetti sat down with him to hear what he had to tell. The little man talked slowly as if he were weighing very word, he talked softly as if he were expounding great secrets, and when he had finished eating, he looked around at the piles of straw mattresses, discovered an unoccupied heap, swung himself