Chapter Five Summary

The director enters Cincinnatus's cell and begins to make a formal announcement. Cincinnatus assumes his execution is about to begin, but the director is announcing that the fellow prisoner has arrived. In addition, Cincinnatus will be allowed to meet with Marthe. The world begins dissolving, and the director chides Cincinnatus for his nerves. Cincinnatus asks when he will be able to meet Marthe, but the director assumes he's talking about the new prisoner.

The prison director takes Cincinnatus to the new prisoner's cell. Cincinnatus is allowed to look through the peephole, and he sees the fat little man sitting at the table. Rodion ushers Cincinnatus back to his cell, leaving the director peeking through the door. Guards are lined up behind the director to peek in at the man. Back in his cell, Cincinnatus worries over what he will say to...