"Total Cost: Roubles 16,884--_i.e._ at the rate of 7 roubles per person.
The superior official, was staggered. He muttered in a fury:
"A deficit! You Fuegian! The whole of your Terra Del Fuego, together with the king and you yourself, is not worth eight hundred roubles. Just think of it! If you are going to steal money like that what am I to do?--I, who occupy a rank ten times higher? If we have such appetites Russia won't last us three years. There are many others besides you who want to live. Can't you understand that? And besides, you have wrongly included three hundred and eighty persons, for three hundred and seventeen 'died prematurely' and sixty-three committed suicide. You swindler, you have included them as well."
"Your Excellency," Oronty tried to justify himself, "but I drove them into such a state of mind that they loathed their life."
"And seven roubles a head for that? Besides, no doubt a lot of those included were not concerned in the matter at all. The total population of the town is only twelve thousand. No, my friend, I will bring you before the court."
A very strict investigation was accordingly made into the activity of the Fuegian, and he was found guilty of having misappropriated nine hundred and sixteen roubles belonging to the Treasury.
The court that tried Oronty was a just one; he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and his career was spoilt. The Fuegian was out of sight for three months.
It is no easy matter to please the authorities.
A kind-hearted man debated what was best to do and finally decided:
"I will cease to resist evil by violence. I will overcome it by patience."
This man was not of a weak character. Having decided, he waited patiently.
Igemon's assistants, hearing of this, reported:
"Amongst the citizens who are under supervision there is one who has suddenly begun to conduct himself in a strange manner. He does not move about or say anything: evidently he is trying to deceive the authorities, pretending not to exist at all."
"How, who does not exist? Bring him into my presence."
The citizen was brought and Igemon commanded: "Search him."
They searched him, deprived him of everything about him that was of value, such as his watch and gold wedding ring.