第42章

FiveyearslaterIampacingthecourtyardoftheMetechskiPrisoninTiflis，and，asIdoso，tryingtoimagineforwhatparticularoffenceIhavebeenincarceratedinthatplaceofconfinement。

Picturesquelygrimwithout，theinstitutionis，inwardly，peopledwithasetofcheerful，butclumsy，humourists。Thatistosay，itwouldseemasthough，“byorderoftheauthorities，“theinmatesarepresentingastagespectacleinwhichtheyareplaying，willinglyandzealously，butwithacompletelackofexperience，imperfectlycomprehendedrolesasprisoners，warders，andgendarmes。

Forinstance，today，whenawarderandagendarmecametomycelltoescortmetoexercise，andIsaidtothem，“MayIbeexcusedexercisetoday？Iamnotverywell，anddonotfeellike，etcetera，etcetera，“thegendarme，atall，handsomemanwitharedbeard，helduptomeawarningfinger。

“NOONE，“hesaid，“hasgivenyoupermissiontofeel，ornottofeel，likedoingthings。“

Towhichthewarder，amanasdarkasachimney-sweep，withlargeblue“whites“tohiseyes，addedstutteringly:

“Tonooneherehaspermissionbeengiventofeel，ornottofeel，likedoingthings。Youhearthat？“

SotoexerciseIwent。

Inthisstone-pavedyardtheairisashotasinanoven，foroverheadthereloursonlyasmall，flatpatchofdull，drab-

tintedsky，andonthreesidesoftheyardrisehighgreywalls，with，onthefourth，theentrance-gates，toppedbyasortoflook-outpost。

OvertheroofofthebuildingtherecomesfloatingthedullroaroftheturbulentriverKura，mingledwithshoutsfromthehuckstersoftheAvlabarBazaar(thetown’sAsiaticquarter)andasacrossmotifthrownintothesesounds，thesighingofthewindandthecooingofdoves。Infact，tobehereislikebeinginadrumwhichamyriaddrumsticksarebeating。

Throughthebarsofthedoublelineofwindowsonthesecondandthethirdstoriespeerthemurkyfacesandtowsledheadsofsomeoftheinmates。Oneofthelatterspitshisfurthestintotheyard——evidentlywiththeintentionofhittingmyself:butallhiseffortsprovevain。Anotheroneshoutswithamordantexpletive:

“Hi，you！Whydoyoukeeptrampingupanddownlikeanoldhen？

Holdupyourhead！“

Meanwhiletheinmatescontinuetointoneinconcertastrangechantwhichisastangledasaskeinofwoolafterservingasaplaythingforakitten’sprolongedgameofsport。Sadlythechantmeanders，wavers，toahigh，wailingnote。Then，asitwere，itsoarsyethighertowardsthedull，murkysky，breakssuddenlyintoasnarl，and，growlinglikeawildbeastinterror，diesawaytogiveplacetoarefrainwhichcoils，tricklesforthfrombetweenthebarsofthewindowsuntilithaspermeatedthefree，torridair。

AsIlistentothatrefrain，longfamiliartome，itseemstovoicesomethingintelligible，andagitatesmysoulalmosttoasenseofagony……

Presently，whilepacingupanddowninthesh

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