Invitation to a Beheading Read Online Free PDF

sense out of that institution, or individual, or group of individuals …”
    The lawyer, who had just been impatient to speak, now for some reason was silent. His made-up face with its dark blue eyebrows and long harelip revealed no particular mental activity.
    “Leave your cuff alone,” said Cincinnatus, “and try to concentrate.”
    Roman Vissarionovich jerkily changed the position of his body and clasped his restless fingers. In a plaintive voice he said, “It is exactly for that tone.…”
    “That I am being executed,” said Cincinnatus. “I know that. Go on!”
    “Let’s change the subject, I implore you,” cried Roman Vissarionovich. “Can’t you even now remain within legitimate limits? This is really awful. It is beyond my endurance. I dropped in merely to ask if you didn’t have some legitimate wishes … for instance” (here his face lit up), “perhaps you should like to have printed copies of the speeches made at the trial? In case of such desire you must immediately submit the necessary petition, which you and I could prepare right now, with detailed specifications as to just how many copies of the speeches you require and for what purpose. I happen to have a free hour—Oh, please, please let’s do this! I have even brought a special envelope.”
    “Just out of curiosity …” said Cincinnatus, “but first … Then, there is really no chance of getting an answer?”
    “A special envelope,” repeated the lawyer to tempt him.
    “All right, let’s have it,” said Cincinnatus, and tore the thick, stuffed envelope into crimpy scraps.
    “You shouldn’t have done that,” cried the lawyer, on the verge of tears. “You shouldn’t have done that at all. You don’t even realize what you have done. Perhaps there was a pardon in there. It won’t be possible to get another!”
    Cincinnatus picked up a handful of scraps and tried to reconstruct at least one coherent sentence, but everything was mixed up, distorted, disjointed.
    “This is the sort of thing you always do,” whined the lawyer, clutching his temples and pacing across the cell. “Perhaps your salvation was right in your very hands, and you … It’s horrible! Well, what shall I do with you? It’s lost and gone now … And I was so pleased! I was preparing you so carefully!”
    “May I?” said the director in a distended voice as he opened the door ajar. “I shan’t disturb you?”
    “Please come in, Rodrig Ivanovich, please come in,” said the lawyer. “Please come in, dear Rodrig Ivanovich. Only it is not very cheerful in here …”
    “Well, and how is our doomed friend today?” quipped the elegant, dignified director, compressing in his meaty purple paws the cold little hand of Cincinnatus. “Is everything all right? No aches or pains? Still gossiping with our indefatigable Roman Vissarionovich? Oh, by the way, dear Roman Vissarionovich, I have some good news for you— my little romp just found your cuff link on the stairs.
Là voici
. This is French gold, isn’t it? Very, very dainty. I usually do not make compliments, but I must say.…”
    They both walked over to a corner, pretending to examine the charming trinket, discuss its history and value, marvelat it. Cincinnatus took this opportunity to take up from under the cot, and, with a high, purling sound, which became hesitant at the end, to …
    “Yes, indeed, in excellent taste, excellent,” the director was repeating as he walked back from the corner with the lawyer. “So you are feeling well, young man,” he meaninglessly addressed Cincinnatus, who was climbing back into bed. “However you must not be childish. The public, and all of us, as representatives of the public, are interested only in your welfare—that must be obvious by now. We are ready to make things easier for you by relieving your loneliness. In a few days a new prisoner will be moving in to one of our deluxe cells. You will become acquainted, and that will entertain