schrodinger's master cylinder

Yesterday, a new master cylinder was installed in my car.
This is the second one since the accident.
The first was installed about three weeks ago. I had noticed a clicking sound when I depressed the clutch, but I had thought maybe it was from the master cylinder wearing in.
I was wrong.
That was not normal.
I had called Dixie Motors about it and they had asked that I bring it back and they would replace it for me.
Apparently, master cylinders are like Schrodinger's cat. In short, you don't know if the one in the box is "alive" or "dead" until you install it and see if (and how) it works.
Rats.
Let's hope this one is alive.