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The Judge carried out Robak's instructions and sat down on the

bed beside him; but Gerwazy remained standing, resting his elbow

on the pommel of his sword, and leaning his bent brow on his

hands.

Robak, before beginning to speak, riveted his gaze on the face of

the Warden and remained mysteriously silent. But as a surgeon

first lays a gentle hand on the body of a sick man before he

makes a cut with the knife, so Robak softened the expression of

his sharp eyes, which he allowed to hover for a long time over

the eyes of Gerwazy; finally, as if he wished to strike a blind

blow, he covered his eyes with his hand and said with a powerful

voice:-

"I am Jacek Soplica."