As for the convicts they could not settle down for a long time afterwards, but they were not so much excited as before, they were in a state of dumb perplexity and bewilderment. Some of them were deeply despondent. Others expressed their discontent, but sparingly. Many in their exasperation jeered at themselves aloud, as though to punish themselves for having got up the protest.

“Put it in your pipe and smoke it,” someone would say.

“We had our joke and now we must pay for it!” another would add.

“What mouse can bell the cat?” observed a third.

“There’s no teaching us without the stick, we all know. It’s a good thing he didn’t flog us all.”

“For the future think more and talk less and you’ll do better!” someone would observe malignantly.

“Why, are you setting up to teach?”

“To be sure I am.”