Or double that time.

Then--the very beating of his heart hurt him; his temple throbbed as though struck by a hammer.

For he always thought of the one thing--and it suddenly flashed into his mind--there were other executioners! His supper was there--a tin can with rice soup and a piece of bread.

He swallowed it mechanically to the last crumb.

Then came night, and the star was again visible in the scrap of sky between the roof and the chimney.