Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/115

Rh The attendant bearing that name entered the room immediately.

'Here,' said his master, 'take this fellow to Doctor Mancus and Chief Inspector Squabblequash; tell them he is to be boiled for one hour in the venom of crotalus horridus and rackarock—here, what are you afraid of? He won't hurt you. I have made him innocuous—lay hold!'

'My master,' said Florian, to my great astonishment, as I had not hitherto heard him say a word. 'I hope your warrant will bear out the deed.'

'What!' shouted the Doctor. 'Are you a larrikin, too? Are you going to be the new General of the Larrikin Guards, eh? Do you dare to quote Shakespeare, or anybody else to me, you rascal! Go and obey my orders, or I'll show you a warrant which will turn you into a dancing goat before you're one minute older.'

'I said very little, sir, and all on the side of mercy,' said Florian humbly. 'I beg your pardon; the quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth'

'Death and fury!' roared the Doctor. 'Shakespeare again!'

But here I took it upon myself to interpose:

'For the love of heaven, Doctor, or my dear friend and benefactor, if you will allow me to call you so, do not permit the evil spirit to take possession of you in this way; remember that you are yourself an erring mortal,' I said solemnly, but I forgot to whom I was speaking.

'Eh! what's that you say? I an erring mortal! No, sir, I am an unerring immortal at your service. As for you, Florian, I forgive you—see that you do not offend me again. Take Astoragus to the tenth dungeon and lock him up.'

Florian left the apartment hastily, dragging the howling General after him.