Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 20
EdMorrelltoldthemwhatanoisomestewstheplacewas,insultedtheWardentohisface,andwasrecommendedbythecommitteetobegivenatasteoftheantiquatedandobsoletepunishmentsthat,afterall,musthavebeendevisedbypreviousWardensoutofnecessityfortherighthandlingofhardcharacterslikehim.
IwascarefulnottoinsulttheWarden.Itestifiedcraftily,andasascientist,beginningwithsmallbeginnings,makinganartofmyexposition,stepbystep,bytinysteps,inveiglingmysenatorialauditorsonintowillingnessandeagernesstolistentothenextexposure,thewholefabricsowoventhattherewasnonaturalhaltingplaceatwhichtodropaperiodorinterpolateaquery...inthisfashion,thus,Igotmytaleacross.
Alas!nowhisperofwhatIdivulgedeverwentoutsidetheprisonwalls.TheSenateCommitteegaveabeautifulwhitewashtoWardenAthertonandSanQuentin.ThecrusadingSanFrancisconewspaperassureditsworking-classreadersthatSanQuentinwaswhiterthansnow,andfurther,thatwhileitwastruethatthestrait-jacketwasstillarecognizedlegalmethodofpunishmentfortherefractory,that,nevertheless,atthepresenttime,underthepresenthumaneandspirituallyright-mindedWarden,thestrait-jacketwasnever,underanycircumstance,used.
