Did the blunder perhaps consist in his playing chess simply because he wanted to distract his attention from the execution and thus shield himself against the fear of death which is apparently inevitable in every person condemned to death? "No.
Eta, bat-batean, ezusteko ideia mingarri bat piztu zitzaion buruan: bere okerra ez ote zen izango xakean jokatuz arreta exekuziotik aldaratu nahi zuela, bere burua kondenatu guztiek heriotzari dioten beldur saihestezinetik babesteko? -Ez, inola ere ez!