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50 DAYS IN THE SUN
“It can’t be wiped out, do what you will!” the prison
inspector of Granada said one day, as we stood on a
balcony over the prison yard. ‘‘We have severe penal-
ties for all kinds of gambling among the prisoners, we
confiscate any object that they might want to gamble
for or that they might use as an aid in gambling; but
all penalties and measures are useless. Just look over
here!” he suddenly interrupted himself, seizing me by
the arm.
Two prisoners were sitting on the ground in the
corner under the balcony, their faces turned toward
each other, their legs spread far apart, the soles of
their feet touching; without eyes or ears for anything
else, their eyes were fixed rigidly upon a circle that
had been drawn on the ground in the space enclosed by
their legs. And what was it they were looking at?
“Why, you see,” said the inspector, “each one of
them has just caught a louse, and they have put the
lice in the center of the circle and the man whose louse
first succeeds in getting out of the circle has won the
bet. Can you tell me what to do with such creatures ?”
“Keep on confiscating!” I said, with a slight smile.
But he did not understand me and continued seri-
ously:
“What use? Their ruling passion makes them in-
ventive. But—to change the subject—have you been
at the Officers’ Club lately? You really must go—
nothing but gentlemen; any one of them would rather
blow his brains out than cheat at cards. So you may
feel quite secure on that score. I’ll introduce you to
the members to-night—but you must be ready for real
business. Be sure to bring real money with you!”
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