“There seemed something so exquisitely ludicrous in the idea of his sober, steady-going respectable brother being brought before a magistrate for a disgraceful misdemeanour, that the dissipated scamp laughed immoderately.
“The painful position in which he was did not affect his hilarity or his flow of animal spirits.
“‘That is capital,’ he said at last. ‘I am only sorry he was not committed for trial.’
“‘There is no chance of that now.’
“‘I suppose not, as I have fallen into your clutches through the infernal treachery of that fellow Donnymore. But I’ll be even with him some day.’
“‘He had nothing to do with it; you must lay your misfortune to the astuteness of Mr. Pegon.’
“‘I wish you and Pegon and the whole kit of you were at the bottom of the sea!’ he growled.
“Presently Von Beest returned to consciousness and glanced fiercely around him.
“‘Ah,’ said Pegon, with cruel levity, ‘that dear Fon Beest is himself once more. Do I not pay my debts well? Have I not returned your compliment, my amiable Fon Beest? Come along; you shall go to the ‘Government Hotel’ to-night, and if the beds should turn out hard come and complain to me and I will get you a new chambermaid. Come here, my dear Fon Beest. Come along, my good Toko.’
* * * * *