CHIEF. Well, how have you got on?
OFFICIALS' IMP[ laughing, and rubbing his hands ] My affairs are all right, just as soot they are white! The booty is such that I don't remember anything like it since the creation of the world.
CHIEF. What, have you captured a great many?
OFFICIALS' IMP. It's not so much the quantity. Only 1350 men in all, but such splendid fellows! Such fellows, they might shame any Devil! They can embroil people better than we ourselves can. I've introduced a new fashion among them.
CHIEF. What's that new fashion?
OFFICIALS' IMP. Why, in former times lawyers were in attendance on the judges and deceived people. Now, I've arranged for them to do business also apart from the judges. Whoever pays most, is the one to whose business they attend. And they'll take such trouble over it that they'll make out a case where there is none! They and the officials between them embroil people far better than we Devils can.
CHIEF. All right. I'll have a look at them. You may pass on.
The Officials' Imp goes to the right.
CHIEF[ to Doorkeeper ] Let in the last one.
Enter the Peasants' Imp with the chunk of bread. He bows to the ground.