"but it is not any one particular thought, only; it is the general circumstances of the case. if voltaire had written this now, or rousseau, i should have just read it and thought it remarkable, but should not have been so impressed by it. but a man who knows for certain that he has but ten minutes to live and can talk like that why it’s it’s pride, that is! it is really a most extraordinary, exalted assertion of personal dignity, it’s it’s defiant! what a gigantic strength of will, eh? and to accuse a fellow like that of not putting in the cap on purpose; it’s base and mean! you know he deceived us last night, the cunning rascal. i never packed his bag for him, and i never saw his pistol. he packed it himself. but he put me off my guard like that, you see. vera says you are going to let him stay on; i swear there’s no danger, especially as we are always with him."