he asked after a pause.
"I hope you admire the patience, with which I listen to your
disconnected fancies; but I beg you not to abuse it." Mohr looked at
him with icy contempt.

"You are a precious rascal," said he. "Under other circumstances I
should wonder at the iron mask Mother Nature has put in the place where
other men wear their faces. But, as I said before, the atmosphere here
is so unpleasant that I'll limit myself to the most necessary words. So
in brief: do you know the present abode of the lady who is the subject
of our conversation?"

"No."

"Have you determined never to inquire for her?"

"Why should I, since I no longer have any relations with this lady?"

"No longer have any relations? You express yourself admirably. But are
you also disposed to bind yourself, if by accident you ever meet her
again, to leave the place and the city at once and avoid her for all
future time?"

"A singular obligation. You expect me to subject myself to all the
inconveniences--"

"I regret that I'm compelled to still further increase these
obligations. You must also forever renounce the pleasure of seeing me
with a solemn oath--although the peculiar relation in which you stand
toward your God, considerably weakens the value such vows usually have
between men of honor. However, I've means to compel you to keep your
promise."

"I should be glad to learn what they are."

"With pleasure, honored sir. Unfortunately, I'm unable to give you
without ceremony the chastisement you deserve, as we crush a venomous
reptile under foot. It would expose me to all sorts of unpleasantnesses,
and as I still have duties toward my fellow men, I must avoid as long
as possible the extreme measures which would bring me in conflict with
the criminal courts. However, although vengeance is mine, saith the
Lord,' I feel a repugnance to seeing a good for nothing fellow, like
you, roaming about at large, and as the arm of civil justice is either
too short or too clumsy to seize such clever criminals, I've resolved
to set in motion against you a noiseless and silent _vehm-gericht_.
Whenever I meet you in the future, I shall brand you without mercy--in
what manner will depend upon the inspiration of the moment. But out
of the world in which I live you must go!" he exclaimed, suddenly
raising his voice almost to a shout, as he rose and threw his cigarette
away. "Do you clearly understand me? I will not tolerate your presence,
will persecute y