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The journey is still a very long one!”
“And where to?” she asked.
“We are, as you know, not allowed to give such explanations to offenders—that is, to tell them to what part they are being driven.”
She saw my hesitation and turned towards me. “It is not necessary,” said she. “I only asked…. Do not speak to me any more, and do not interfere with me.”
Yet I could not help saying: “The place we are driving to, Miss, is certainly not near….”
Again she bit her lips, knitted her brows, and did not answer. I shook my head. “Well, well, Miss, you are young and do not know what it means.”
I felt very sorry, and she looked at me, saying: “In vain, you think so. I know well what it means, but notwithstanding that I will not go into the hospital. Thank you…. I prefer already to die at liberty than in your prison hospital. You think, per-
