for the annoyance he was now suffering seemed
to rest with Screw, and Screw should be taught a great lesson; and to
that end Claudius would write a letter. It was clear he was still angry.

The Doctor sat down to write; and his strong, white fingers held the pen
with unrelenting determination to be disagreeable. His face was set like
a mask, and ever and anon his blue eyes gleamed scornfully. And this is
what he said--

"SIR--Having enjoyed the advantage of your society, somewhat longer
than I could have wished, during yesterday afternoon, I had
certainly not hoped for so early a mark of your favour and interest
as a letter from you of to-day's date. As for your formal notice to
me that my drafts will not be honoured in future, I regard it as a
deliberate repetition of the insulting insinuation conveyed to me
by your remarks during your visit. You are well aware that I have
not drawn upon the estate in spite of your written authorisation to
do so. I consider your conduct in this matter unworthy of a person
professing the law, and your impertinence is in my opinion only
second to the phenomenal clumsiness you have displayed throughout.
As I fear that your ignorance of your profession may lead you into
some act of folly disastrous to yourself, I will go so far as to
inform you that on my return from Europe, two months hence, your
proceedings as executor for the estate of the late Gustavus
Lindstrand will be subjected to the severest scrutiny. In the
meantime, I desire no further communications from you.

CLAUDIUS."

This remarkable epistle was immediately despatched by messenger to Pine
Street; and if Mr. Screw had felt himself injured before, he was on the
verge of desperation when he read Claudius's polemic. He repeated to
himself the several sentences, which seemed to breathe war and carnage
in their trenchant brevity; and he thought that even if he had been
guilty of any breach of trust, he could hardly have felt worse. He ran
his fingers through his thick yellow-gray hair, and hooked his legs in
and out of each other as he sat, and bullied his clerks within an inch
of their lives. Then, to get consolation, he said to himself that
Claudius was certainly an impostor, or he would not be so angry, or go
to Europe, or refuse any more communications. In the midst of his rage,
Mr. Barker the younger opportunely appeared in the offi