There is no denying the fact that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits. The police arrests the criminals and the law enforcing agencies fight the cases. On both the sides pleadings go on and in the end punishment is awarded to the criminal. In this one act play there is a battle of wits between the Governor and two police officers on one hand and Evans on the other. Necessary precautionary mesures have been taken for ‘O’ Level German Examination in the cell.

Side by side it has been ensured that Evans should not escape at any cost. In the beginning one can note that the authorities fail to check the identity of McLeery. They pave way for Evans to run away from the cell. It becomes clear when MeLeery is found gagged and bound in his study. In reality Evans impersonated McLeery and stayed inside the cell. He does not come outside. Then ambulance is called to take McLeery to the hospital. The police officials and the Governor fail to check and find out the verasity of the facts. They miss Evans cosidering him as McLeery. Thus in this story there is a battle of wits between the Governor and Evans. Evans has the last laugh as he is mastermind in escaping from the prison while the Governor is just another good-for-a-giggle, gullible Governor.

The Governor could have taken Evans in his vehicle from the hotel. After all those deceptions and misunderstandings, he should not have believed any one. If he would have been a bit more careful, the culprit could not get free again. Here two points come under our view. First the Governor should not have rang up the local police station for the van and the police officials. He was overconfident and believed what was happening there, was correct. It would have been in the fitness of the things that he should have taken the identity of the van, driver and the police officials.

But the Governor did not do anything. His act of foolishness proves beyond doubt that he was just an other good-for-a-giggle, guillible Governor, that was all. It was his last act of foolishness to believe the others, that helped Evans in running away once more. It proves that he was really a gullible Governor who can be easily deceived instead of his tight security arrangements.

Having the last laugh' means to be successful and making the opponent stupid. Here the phrase finds a suitable place in the story. We can see that the Governor initiates all precautionary measures for the smooth conduct of the examination and ensures that Evans won’t escape. He arranges for a microphone in the cell of Evans and appoints two Senior Police Officers for his vigil. And in spite of all his toil, Evans has the last laugh. His cell is thoroughly searched and it is reported that nothing is hidden there. Still Evans is able to hide a false beard, a pair of spectacles, a dog collar and some sort of weapon that has hurt McLeery.

Further McLeery is found securely bound and gagged in his study. It becomes clear that Evans has been impersonating McLeery who had stayed in. Even after his arrest at a hotel The Golden Lion, the Governor could not bring him back to the cell. He had some good friends who helped his escape. In examination and police department he had close friends who arranged things for him. With his intelligence and the help of his friends, Evans was able to have the last laugh in the story.

Yes, it is true that the prison staff often develop a soft corner in their hearts for the criminals in custody. Those who are hard core criminals can never have sympathy of any one. But those who are petty criminals with good nature become friendly with the prison staff as is the case of Evans. He was not violent and was a jolly chap. Although he had tried to escape many times, still he was able to earn some sympathy in the hearts of the Governor and the prison officers. It was just because of this soft corner that the Governor recommended for conducting his O-level exams.

It is also correct that we hate the sin but develop sympathy towards the sinner. It is a human tendency and nobody is perfect as well as untouched from this. Prior to the examination, Jackson asks Evans to take his hat off but Evans does not remove and calls it is a good luck for him. In case he has taken it off, there has been a different story. But the police official takes a lenient view and that is why criminal Evans takes his full advantage. Prior to this the room of Evans is thoroughly checked and unwanted material is taken away but one surprises how there remained objectionable material in his room and the same turned the tables. Thus the prison staff often develops soft comer for those who are in custody.

We know that every precaution has been taken so that Evans will not escape from the cell. At 11.22 a.m., Stephens has been instructed to escort McLeery to the prison gate. He is asked to make sure that the door is locked on Evans after McLeery has left the cell. He behaves like a woman who can never convinced herself if she has locked the door. She will again go to check it. In the same way Stephens opens the peep-hole and cries “Oh, no ! Christ, no.!” He is perplexed to see a man lying in the chair with blood dripping from the head. Stephens thinks that McLeery has been hit and Evans has made his escape. This assumption leads to another hasty conjectures and none confirms the identity of the injured. In reality Evans throws dust in the eyes of the prison staff and escapes since the injured McLeery is Evans himself. This clearly shows that hasty conjectures often prevent one from seeing the obvious. In case Stephens would have checked the identity of McLeery, the whole police machinery would not have to run like that and the prisoner would not have escaped. The criminals understand the human tendencies and act accordingly. They befool the whole system and plan the crime.