"I think, Mr. Hewett, if you will permit me. Mankell, I am not a clergyman." The prisoner's smile almost degenerated into a grin. "I have sent for you, for the second time this morning, to ask you frankly if you have any reason to complain of your treatment here?" The prisoner stretched out his hands with his familiar gesture. "Have you any complaint to make? Is there anything, within the range of the prison rules, you would wish me to do for you?" Again the hands went out. "Then tell me, quite candidly, what is the cause of your behaviour?"
When the governor ceased, the prisoner seemed to be considering what answer he should make. Then, inclining his head with that almost saturnine grace, if one may coin a phrase, which seemed to accompany every movement he made:
"Sir, what have I done?" he asked.
"Eh--eh--we--we won't dwell upon that. The question is, What did you do it for?"
"It is perhaps within your recollection, sir, that I have my reputation to redeem, my character to reinstate."
"Your character? What do you mean?"
"In the first interview with which you favoured me, I ventured to observe that it would be my endeavour, during my sojourn within these walls, to act upon the advice the magistrate tendered me."
"What"--the governor rather faltered--"what advice was that?"
"He said I claimed to be a magician. He advised me, for my character's sake, to prove it during my sojourn here."
"I see. And--and you're trying to prove it--for your character's sake?"