"True, it is pleasant to see a citizen yielding and peaceful. But if everybody ceased to resist, would it not cut off our daily allowance and our travelling expenses? We might lose our bonuses too.... No, it cannot be that there is no resistance left in him. The rogue is pretending; he must be put to the test. To what use shall I put him? Make of him an agent-provocateur? The expression of his face is indefinite, his lack of personality could not be hidden by any mask. Besides, his powers of oratory are evidently not great. Make him a hangman? He has not strength enough."
At last a thought struck him and he said to his subordinates:
"Put this happy man in the third section of the fire brigade to clean the stables."
It was done. The citizen strenuously cleaned the stables without saying a word, while Igemon looked on, touched by his patience; his confidence in the man was steadily increasing.
"But if everybody behaved like that?"
After a short trial he promoted him into his own office and asked him to copy a false report which he himself had written about the income and expenditure of various sums. The citizen copied it and kept silence.
Igemon was touched to such an extent that he shed tears.
"No, he is a useful man, although literate."
He called the citizen to him and said:
"I believe in you! Go and preach your truth, but keep your eyes open."