The Project Gutenberg eBook, I.N.R.I., by Peter Rosegger, Translated by
Elizabeth Lee

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Title: I.N.R.I.
A prisoner's Story of the Cross

Author: Peter Rosegger

Release Date: November 5, 2005 [eBook #17011]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK I.N.R.I.***

E-text prepared by Al Haines

I. N. R. I.

A Prisoner's Story of the Cross

by

PETER ROSEGGER

Translated by Elizabeth Lee

Hodder and Stoughton Limited
London
First Edition, September, 1905.
Second Edition, September, 1905.
Third Edition, December, 1905.
Made and Printed in Great Britain.
Wyman & Sons Ltd., London, Reading and Fakenham

PROLOGUE

The difficult path which leads to the gardens where the waters of life
sparkle, takes us first to a big city in which the hearts of men
pulsate with feverish unrest.

There is such a great crowd in the broad square in front of the law
courts that the electric cars are forced to stop. Six or eight of them
are standing in a row, and the police cannot break through the crowd.
Every one is making for the law courts; some hurry forward excitedly,
others push their way through quietly, and fresh streams of people from
the side streets are continually joining the rest. The public
prosecutor is expected every moment to appear on the balcony and
announce the verdict to the public.

Every one was indulging in remarks about the prisoner who had wished to
do so terrible a deed.

"He is condemned, sure enough!" shouted one man. "The like of him gets
to Heaven with a hempen cord!"

"Don't be silly," said another, with lofty superiority. "In half an
hour at most he'll pass the gate a free man. Juries don't condemn the
like of him."

Many agreed with the first speaker, but more with the last.

"Whoever believes that he'll be let off is a fool!" shouted some one.
"Just consider what he did, what he wished to do!"

"He wanted to do a splendid thing!"

Passionate discussion and wagering began. It would have struck a keen
observer that good broadcloth expected condemnation, while fustian and
rags eagerly desired acquittal. A big man of