d forth weird and
sonorous German oaths mingled with full-flavoured English blasphemies,
all rolling out so thick and fast as to tread upon each other's heels
and well-nigh to choke the utterer. In the midst of a forced breathing
space a voice--quick and stern--was heard to exclaim--

"What is all this about?"

Sonnenberg started. In the doorway stood the magistrate himself. But
there was that in the latter's face which sadly disconcerted the
frenzied Teuton. The ally he had reckoned on seemed to wear an
uncommonly hostile look. However, he began volubly to explain how he
had been insulted when he came in, and how the constable had been
ordered to eject him. Mr Van Stolz heard him to the end, Roden putting
in no word; then he looked at the summons, which still lay on the table,
where it had been thrown.

"Mr Sonnenberg," he said, "I can see through a brick wall as far as
most people and I don't want to be told the ins and outs of this.
Whatever you have had to put up with you have brought upon yourself.
You received a perfectly courteous letter reminding you that you had not
yet taken out your licence. You chose to take no notice of that, so Mr
Musgrave, by my instructions, drew up a summons. In coming here to talk
about it you have committed an act of gross impertinence, bordering on a
contempt of court, and if you think that you can come into these offices
for the purpose of kicking up a row, we shall soon show you your
mistake. Whatever day is set forth on the summons, that day you had
better be in court--which is all I need say in the matter. Now, you may
go."

Astounded, bewildered, snubbed down to the very dust, Sonnenberg slunk
off. The silent, absolutely indifferent contempt of Roden, was more
galling than any look of cheap triumph might have been, for the latter
had not even thought it worth while to put in one word of his version of
the story, wherein he was right. But the vindictive Jew vowed within
his heart the direst of dire vengeance did the chance ever present
itself.

"That damned Jew!" exclaimed Mr Van Stolz in his free and confidential
way, when he and his subordinate were alone together again. "You were
quite right, Musgrave. You must not stand any humbug from such fellows.
Watkins was too much hand-in-glove with them all, and they thought they
could do anything with him in the way of trying it on, but he was young.
Still, of course, it doesn't do to be too sharp on fellows. I do