And the words "I am afraid" were uttered by him only because there were no other words, because no other conceptions existed, nor could other conceptions exist which would grasp this new, un-human condition.
Thus would it be with a man if, while remaining within the bounds of human reason, experience and feelings, he were suddenly to see God Himself.

He would see Him but would not understand, even though he knew that it was God, and he would tremble with inconceivable sufferings of incomprehension.
"There is Mueller for you!" he suddenly uttered loudly, with extreme conviction, and shook his head.

And with that unexpected break in his feelings, of which the human soul is so capable, he laughed heartily and cheerfully.
"Oh, Mueller! My dear Mueller! Oh, you splendid German! After all you are right, Mueller, and I am an ass!" He paced the cell quickly several times and to the great astonishment of the soldier who was watching him through the peephole, he quickly undressed himself and cheerfully went through all the eighteen exercises with the greatest care.

He stretched and expanded his young, somewhat emaciated body, sat down for a moment, drew deep breaths of air and exhaled it, stood up on tip-toe, stretched his arms and his feet.

And after each exercise he announced, with satisfaction: "That's it! That's the real way, Mueller!" His cheeks flushed; drops of warm, pleasant perspiration came from the pores of his body, and his heart beat soundly and evenly.
"The fact is, Mueller," philosophized Sergey, expanding his chest so that the ribs under his thin, tight skin were outlined clearly,--"the fact is, that there is a nineteenth exercise--to hang by the neck motionless.