ambitious of incurring Sonnenberg's enmity for life had only to hint at
his being of Hebraic extraction, and indeed, if only from the horror in
which he affected to hold such suggestion, it is highly probable he was.
For the rest he had all the self-conceit of the average Teuton, who has
made, or is making, a fair success of life.

"What is dis--what is dis?" he repeated in a tone tremulous with rage,
flinging the paper upon the table. Roden picked it up.

"A summons," he said, glancing down it. "A summons, citing one Adolphus
Sonnenberg (that's yourself, isn't it?) to appear before the Resident
Magistrate on Monday next, for neglecting to comply with the Revenue
Acts, in keeping a retail shop without a licence. Perfectly correctly
drawn, I think," looking up inquiringly. "Eh, what? `Damned impudence'
did you say? Well, yes. I'm inclined to agree with you. It is--on the
part of a man who gets a civil reminder more than a week ago that he is
liable to penalties, and treats it with contempt until he is summoned in
due course, then comes bursting in here and kicks up a row, with no more
regard for the laws of decent behaviour than for those of his adopted
country. Yes. I quite agree with your definition of it. Anything
more?"

This was said blandly--suavely. The other was bursting with rage.

"Anything more?" he bellowed. "Plenty more. Wait till I see Mr Van
Stolz about it. We've known each other for years. See if he'll see me
insulted by a twopenny-halfpenny magistrate's clerk."

"Quite so. He'll be here by-and-by. Meanwhile, kindly leave my
office."

"I shall leave when I choose," was the defiant rejoinder.

"Ah, indeed!" Then, raising his voice, "Hey! Jan Kat! Come in here."

There was a shuffling of feet. The native constable, who had been
roosting in the son on the court-house steps, appeared at the door.

"Turn Mr Sonnenberg out of my office."

Just those few words--quietly spoken--no further appeal to leave. Roden
prepared to go on with his work again.

"Come, sir, you must go," said the constable.

Sonnenberg was speechless with rage. He glared first at Roden, then at
the stalwart Fingo, as though he had some thoughts of assaulting one or
both of them. To be turned out of the room ignominiously, and by a
native! It was too much of an outrage.

"Come, sir, you must leave the office," repeated the constable more
peremptorily.

Then Sonnenberg opened his mouth and there gurgle