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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: soldiers, commencing with the Libyans. As they had declared that the
lists were untruthful, he made no use of them.
They defiled before him according to nationality, opening their
fingers to show the number of their years of service; they were marked
in succession with green paint on the left arm; the scribes dipped
into the yawning coffer, while others made holes with a style on a
sheet of lead.
A man passed walking heavily like an ox.
"Come up beside me," said the Suffet, suspecting some fraud; "how many
years have you served?"
"Twelve," replied the Libyan.
Salammbo | 
