asquicklyasifcarriedbythewingedthoughtstheywereinthegreatcity,andfromthewallsthenamesofthedeadlysinsshoneinflamingletters:pride,avarice,drunkenness,wantonness-inshort,thewholeseven-colouredbowofsin.

"yes,therein,asibelieved,asiknewit,"saidthepastor,"arelivingthosewhoareabandonedtotheeternalfire."andtheywerestandingbeforethemagnificentlyilluminatedgate;thebroadstepswereadornedwithcarpetsandflowers,anddancemusicwassoundingthroughthefestivehalls.afootmandressedinsilkandvelvetstoodwithalargesilver-mountedrodneartheentrance.

"ourballcancomparefavourablywiththeking's,"hesaid,andturnedwithcontempttowardsthegazingcrowdinthestreet.whathethoughtwassufficientlyexpressedinhisfeaturesandmovements:"miserablebeggars,whoarelookingin,youarenothingincomparisontome."

"pride,"saidthedeadwoman;"doyouseehim?"

"thefootman?"askedthepastor."heisbutapoorfool,andnotdoomedtobetorturedeternallybyfire!"

"onlyafool!"itsoundedthroughthewholehouseofpride:theywereallfoolsthere.

thentheyflewwithinthefournakedwallsofthemiser.leanasaskeleton,tremblingwithcold,andhunger,theoldmanwasclingingwithallhisthoughtstohismoney.theysawhimjumpupfeverishlyfromhismiserablecouchandtakealoosestoneoutofthewall;therelaygoldcoinsinanoldstocking.theysawhimanxiouslyfeelingoveranoldraggedcoatinwhichpiecesofgoldweresewn,andhisclammyfingerstrembled.

"heisill!thatismadness-ajoylessmadness-besiegedbyfearanddreadfuldreams!"

theyquicklywentawayandcamebeforethebedsofthecriminals;theseunfortunatepeoplesleptsidebyside,inlongrows.likeaferociousanimal,oneofthemroseoutofhissleepandutteredahorriblecry,andgavehiscomradeaviolentdigintheribswithhispointedelbow,andthisoneturnedroundinhissleep:

"bequiet,monster-sleep!thishappenseverynight!"

"everynight!"repeatedtheother."yes,everynighthecomesandtorturesme!inmyviolenceihavedonethisandthat.iwasbornwithanevilmind,whichhasbroughtmehitherforthesecondtime;butifihavedonewrongisufferpunishmentforit.onething,however,ihavenotyetconfessed.whenicameoutalittlewhileago,andpassedbytheyardofmyformermaster,evilthoughtsrosewithinmewhenirememberedthisandthat.istruckamatchalittlebitonthewall;probablyitcamealittletooclosetothethatchedroof.allburntdown-agreatheatrose,suchassometimesovercomesme.imyselfhelpedtorescuecattleandthings,nothingaliveburnt,exceptaflightofpigeons,whichflewintothefire,andtheyarddog,ofwhichihadnotthought;onecouldhearhimhowloutofthefire,andthishowlingistillhearwheniwishtosleep;andwhenihavefallenasleep,thegreatroughdogcomesandplaceshimselfuponme,andhowls,presses,andtorturesme.nowlistentowhatitellyou!youcansnore;youaresnoringthewholenight,andihardlyaquarterofanhour!"andthebloodrosetotheheadoftheexcitedcriminal;hethrewhimselfuponhiscomrade,andbeathimwithhisclencedfistintheface.

"wickedmatzhasbecomemadagain!"theysaidamongstthemselves.theothercriminalsseizedhim,wrestledwithhim,andbenthimdouble,sothathisheadrestedbetweenhisknees,andtheytiedhim,sothatthebloodalmostcameoutofhiseyesandoutofallhispores.

"youarekillingtheunfortunateman,"saidthepastor,andashestretchedouthishandtoprotecthimwhoalreadysufferedtoomuch,thescenechanged.theyflewthroughrichhallsandwretchedhovels;wantonnessandenvy,allthedeadlysins,passedbeforethem.anangelofjusticereadtheircrimesandtheirdefence;thelatterwasnotabrilliantone,butitwasreadbeforegod,whoreadstheheart,whoknowseverything,thewickednessthatcomesfromwithinandfromwithout,whoismercyandlovepersonified.thepastor'shandtrembled;hedarednotstretchitout,hedidnotventuretopullahairoutofthesinner'shead.andtearsgushedfromhiseyeslikeastreamofmercyandlove,thecoolingwatersofwhichextinguishedtheeternalfireofhell.

justthenthecockcrowed.

"fatherofallmercy,grantthoutoherthepeacethatiwasunabletoprocureforher!"