Case R. of the Lucas‑Dockery experiments began on the new régime that afternoon.
'Come out, said the warder, unlocking his cell, 'and bring your 'at.
The parade ground, empty of its revolving squads, looked particularly desolate.
'Stand there and don't move till I come back, said the warder.
Presently he returned with a little bony figure in prison dress.
'This 'ere's your pal, he said, 'this 'ere's the path you've got to walk on. Neither of you is to touch the other or any part of 'is clothing. Nothing is to be passed from one to the other. You are to keep at a distance of one yard and talk of 'istory, philosophy, or kindred subjects. When I rings the bell you stops talking, see? Your pace is to be neither quicker nor slower than average walking‑pace. Them's the Governor's instructions, and Gawd 'elp yer if yer does anything wrong. Now walk.
'This is a silly dodge, said the little man. 'I've been in six prisons, and I never seen nothing to touch it. Most irregular. You doesn't know where you are these days. This blinking prison is going to the dogs. Look at the Chaplain. Wears a wig!
'Are you here for long? asked Paul politely.
'Not this time. They couldn't get a proper charge against me. "Six months for loitering with intent." They'd been watching me for weeks, but I wasn't going to let them have a chance this time. Now six months is a very decent little sentence, if you take my meaning. One picks up with old friends, and you like it all the more when you comes out. I never minds six months. What's more, I'm known here, so I always gets made "landing cleaner". I expect you've seen me hand often enough coming round with the grub. The warders know me, see, so they always keeps the job open for me if they hears I'm coming back. If you're nice to 'em the first two or three times you're 'ere, they'll probably do the same for you.
'Is it a very good job?