It was a dark autumn night. The old banker was walking up and down his study, remembering a party he had given fifteen years before. There had been many clever men at that party, and much interesting talk. Among other things, they had spoken about capital punishment. The guests, most of whom disapproved of the death penalty, considered it unsuitable for a Christian state. In the opinion of some of them, the death penalty ought to be replaced everywhere by imprisonment for life. "I do not agree with you," said the host, the banker. "I have not tried either the death penalty or imprisonment for life, but if one may judge in advance, then the death penalty is more moral and more humane than imprisonment. Execution kills at once, but lifelong imprisonment kills slowly. Which executioner is the more humane — the one who kills you in a few minutes, or the one who draws the life out of you over many years?" "Both are equally immoral," remarked one of the guests, "because both have the same aim — to take away life. The state is not God. It has no right to take away what it cannot give back." Among the guests was a young lawyer, a man of about twenty-five. When his opinion was asked, he said: "The death penalty and imprisonment for life are equally immoral; but if I had to choose between them, I would certainly choose the second. To live in any way is better than not to live at all." A lively argument followed. The banker, who was younger and more excitable then, suddenly struck the table with his fist and cried to the young lawyer: "It is not true! I bet you two million that you would not stay in a cell even for five years." "If you mean it seriously," replied the lawyer, "then I bet that I will stay there not five, but fifteen." "Fifteen? Done!" cried the banker. "Gentlemen, I stake two million!" "Agreed! You stake your millions, and I my freedom!" said the lawyer. And so this wild, senseless bet was made.