human
Is that enough?
gpt
Thank you, thank you! said Ferleitner;
human
Oh no, my dear sir, no. We know that sort of thing. Since the notary in Number 43 stabbed himself with a steel pen five years ago, I don't give any more,
gpt
But I can't write without a pen,
human
That's not my business; I can't let you have a pen,
gpt
The judge gave me permission to have one,
human
Do you know this judge, he just comes up as far as this, and he placed his hand on a level with his chin.
gpt
He crumbles everything up and then we're to spoon it out. Then he muttered indistinctly in his beard;
human
I say just this, if they let a man hang for a week before they hang him, it's a--a--good God! I can't properly--I can't find any more fine words! If a man puts a knife into himself, no wonder!
gpt
I shan't kill myself, said Konrad quietly.
human
They say I may put my hopes in the king.
gpt
And you want to write to him? That won't help much, but you can do it if you like; there's time. For once it's a good thing that our officials are so slow. If it's any comfort to you, you may know that they wrong me, too. They won't accept my resignation. Yes, that's how it is with us,
human
But don't you spoil them! For they were the very pens with which death-warrants had been signed--the old man had a collection of such things and hoped to sell it to a rich Englishman.
gpt
Does your honour require anything else?