“But, your reverence,” cried Robinson, “don't let me be called a refractory prisoner when you know I am not.” “Then what were you in the black-hole for?” “For obeying orders.” “Nonsense! hum! Explain.” “His reverence said to me, 'You are a good writer; write your own life down. See how you like it when you look at it with reason's eye instead of passion's, all spread out before you in its true colors. Tell the real facts--no false coin, nor don't put any sentiments down you don't feel to please me--I shall only despise you,' said his reverence. Well, sir, I am not a fool, and so of course I could see how wise his reverence was, and how much good might come to my poor sinful soul by doing his bidding; and I said a little prayer he had taught me against a self-deceiving heart--his reverence is always letting fly at self-deception--and then I sat down and I said, 'Now I won't tell a single lie or make myself a pin better or worse than I really am. Well, gentlemen, I hadn't written two pages when Mr. Fry found me out and told the governor, and the governor had me shoved into the black-hole where you found me.” “This is Mr. Fry, I think?” “My name is Fry” “Was this prisoner sent to the black-hole merely for writing his life by the chaplain's orders?” “You must ask the governor, sir. My business is to report offenses and to execute orders; I don't give 'em.” “Mr. Hawes, was he sent to the black-hole for doing what the chaplain had set him to do by way of a moral lesson?” “He was sent for scribbling a pack of lies without my leave.” “What! when he had the permission of your superior officer.” “Of my superior officer?” “Your superior in the department of instruction, I mean. Can you doubt that he is so with these rules before you? Let me read you one of them: 'Rule 18. All prisoners, including those sentenced to hard labor, are to have such time allowed them for instruction as the chaplain may think proper, whether such instruction withdraw them from their labor for a time or not.' And again, by 'Rule 80. Each prisoner is to have every means of moral and religious instruction the chaplain shall select for each as suitable.' So that you have passed out of your own department into a higher department, which was a breach of discipline, and you have affronted the head of that department and strained your authority to undermine his, and this in the face of Rule 18, which establishes this principle: that should the severities of the prison claim a prisoner by your mouth, and religious or moral instruction claim him by the chaplain's, your department must give way to the higher department.” “This is very new to me, sir; but if it is the law--”