"a little while ago a very amusing idea struck me. what if i were now to commit some terrible crime murder ten fellow-creatures, for instance, or anything else that is thought most shocking and dreadful in this world what a dilemma my judges would be in, with a criminal who only has a fortnight to live in any case, now that the rack and other forms of torture are abolished! why, i should die comfortably in their own hospital in a warm, clean room, with an attentive doctor probably much more comfortably than i should at home.