Then, as now, the prisoners did not do any labour before trial, but after conviction they were sent to correctional prisons.
Under the new system the prison is intended to be a penal hospital for the cure of diseased and contagious souls.
The one in which Peace found himself was of the latter class.
On his reaching the first gallery a number was shouted out in a loud voice by his attendant. One of the warders came forward and conducted Peace to his cell.
He was told what to do in case he wished to speak to a warder. It was pointed out to him by his custodian that everything was clean and in its place, and that he was expected to keep it so.
He was also informed that if he liked to pay another prisoner for cleaning his cell he could, by permission of the governor, have it done for him, but otherwise he would have to do it himself.
All these matters he knew, but he did not care to say so. He also knew by heart the printed list of rules to which his attention was next directed.
He said he was too ill to clean his own cell at present, and would rather pay another prisoner to do the work.
He was very clever at shamming illness, but on this occasion he really was in a weak state.
The door was shut with a horrid discordant sound, and Peace then was fairly caged, and felt miserable to the last degree.