How I crawled back to the cell I can scarcely remember.  But I recall being spurred forward with sundry jabs and prods by the rifle.  Reaching my cell I sank down upon my bed.

How long I lay there it is impossible to say, but presently I became conscious of some one standing beside me.  I wearily sat up to see an officer.  Had he brought me the verdict of the Court?  At the thought I rose to my feet.  But no!  He had nothing to do with the Tribunal.  He eyed me closely and then turning to the array of basins containing the untouched food and hunks of black bread he remarked grimly: 

“Do you know you will die if you don’t eat your food?”

“I shall if I do, so what’s the odds?  Its smell is sufficient!”

“Do you know we can make you eat it?”

“You try, and I promise you that you will get it back in double quick time,” I retorted significantly and defiantly.

“Well, what would you like to eat?”

“Like to eat?” I repeated.  “Why, I could do with a six-course dinner,” was my sarcastic rejoinder, feeling confident that he had merely asked the question to tantalise me.  But seeing that he really meant what he said I rattled off a complete menu, not forgetting the cup of black coffee and an Egyptian cigarette.  Feeling that the officer was in reality the prison doctor I grew reckless and cynical.

“Well, I’m damned!” was his ejaculatory comment when I had finished.  And he gave a loud, long laugh.

My temper was rising, and I think my face must have betrayed my wish to strangle him, because he continued, “You’ve got money, and you can buy one meal a day from outside if you like.  I’ll grant you your gluttonous feed to-day—­except the cigarette—­seeing that you’ve eaten nothing for three days.  The cigarette is impossible:  it is quite against the rules and regulations of the prison.  But to-morrow you’ll have to rest content with a plate of meat and vegetables.”

After he had left the cell I came to the conclusion that he had been merely having a huge joke at my expense.  But ten minutes later the gaoler entered bearing two big trays upon which were arrayed the six courses.  My eyes glittered with a wolfish greed, but I restrained myself.  I sat down to the meal and proceeded with it very leisurely, getting up now and again to pace a little while to assist my weakened digestion.  Indeed, by the time I had swallowed the last morsel the gaoler entered with my tea.  But that meal put new life into me.  Afterwards I easily subsisted upon the dinner from without; that was adequate for the twenty-four hours.  I think I paid sufficient for the privilege seeing that the six-course dinner and three subsequent plates of meat and vegetables cost me twenty-six marks.