Many questions were troubling the explorer, but at the sight of the prisoner he asked only: Does he know his sentence? No, said the officer, eager to go on with his exposition, but the explorer interrupted him: He doesn't know the sentence that has been passed on him? No, said the officer again, pausing a moment as if to let the explorer elaborate his question, and then said: There would be no point in telling him. He'll learn it on his body.