Three people were undergoing recruitment by the CIA.

"An agent must be absolutely loyal to The Agency and must not question or disobey orders, no matter what he or she thinks of them," said the recruiter. "Each of you must take the final loyalty test."

He summoned the first recruit into his office. "How long have you been married?"
"One year, sir," said the recruit.
"Ahh, newlyweds, said the recruiter. "Do you love your husband?"
"Yes sir, very much."
"In the room next door is your husband and a revolver. Kill him."
"No! What kind of sick test is this anyway?"
With that the recruit left and dropped out of the program.

The next recruit was summoned. "How long have you been married?" asked the recruiter.
"Five years," said the recruit.
"Do you love your wife?"
"Yes sir." "In the room next door is your wife and a revolver. Kill her."
The second recruit hesitantly went into the room, but returned soon after. "I can't do it. I'll have to drop out of the program."

The final recruit was summoned.
"How long have you been married?" asked the recruiter.
The third recruit looked up, bit her lip, then answered. "Fifteen years."
"Do you love your husband?"
"Well yeah, I guess so. We've been married a long time and I'm used to him."
"In the room next door is your husband and a revolver. Kill him."

The third recruit went into the room and a shot rang out. After a short pause, five more shots followed in rapid succession. After another pause, there were sounds of breaking glass and toppling furniture, then a long silence. Finally, the recruit emerged from the room, her shirt torn and her hair messed up.

"Well, he's dead. But some damned fool loaded the gun with blanks so I had to hit him on the head with a lamp and then strangle him with the cord."