“I fail somewhat to grasp your meaning.”
“Why, look you, knouted you must be in some way or other, for the Czar will be present to see his orders carried out. Now, there are three ways of swinging the lash.”
“Really? You interest me.”
“First, there is the merciful way. The strokes are made to descend upon the back only; in which case one has a chance of surviving the lash, even though gunpowder be rubbed into the wounds and set on fire.”
“Is that one of the features of the merciful way?”
“The people sometimes demand it; it pleases them, and need not hurt you.”
“How is the pain to be avoided?”
“A bribe to the knouter, and he will, before beginning business, administer to you unseen a stupefying drug.”
“Good! And the second way——?”
“Ah, that is terrible, gospodin, terrible! The executioner causes the lash to coil entirely round the body, cutting the flesh as with the edge of a razor, laying the very bones and bowels bare. No one can survive this method, which is the one he’ll adopt, unless bribed to act otherwise.”