CHAPTER VI.
Having conveyed to the Warden of our prison the contents of my conversation with K., I asked him not to punish the young man for spoiling the walls, which would thus betray me, and I, to save the youth, suggested the following plan, which was accepted by the Warden after a few purely formal objections.
"It is important for him," I said, "that his drawings should be preserved, but it is apparently immaterial to him in whose possession these drawings are.

Let him, then, avail himself of his art, paint your portrait, Mr.Warden, and after that the portraits of the entire staff of your officials.

To say nothing of the honour you would show him by this condescension--an honour which he will surely know how to appreciate--the painting may be useful to you as a very original ornament in your drawing room or study.

Besides, nothing will prevent us from destroying the drawings if we should not care for them, for the naive and somewhat selfish young man apparently does not even admit the thought that anybody's hand would destroy his productions." Smiling, the Warden suggested, with a politeness that flattered me extremely, that the series of portraits should commence with mine.

I quote word for word that which the Warden said to me: "Your face actually calls for reproduction on canvas.