“Well,” continued Zuidhoorn, “it is a very curious thing that no one has ever dropped the slightest hint to me of any such infirmity.”
“True enough, my dear colleague; but nevertheless it has been noticed for some little time. At first I looked upon it merely as a result of the extreme interest which we know you take in the discharge of your duties. But it soon became evident to your friends that it was a symptom of failing health: and, as you know perfectly well, in our profession especially, it is of the utmost importance that there should be meus sana in corpore sano.”
Mr. Zuidhoorn was utterly amazed, as well as fairly disgusted. Was that then the impression which his long and conscientious services had made upon his superiors at head-quarters? Was that the reward for the many years of anxious work which he had bestowed upon his office?
“But, my dear sir,” said he, “you will, I suppose, not object to give me a single instance in which that supposed infirmity of mine has manifested itself to you?”
“A single instance! my worthy friend, why! I will give you ten, twenty if you like!”
“I ask you but for one,” was Zuidhoorn’s reply.
“Very well then,” said the Chief Justice, “look at that recent business of the Santjoemeh sessions.”
“Which sessions?” asked Zuidhoorn.
“Ah, you see! you have a kind of inner consciousness that there are several occasions on which—”
“That is the merest quibble!” cried Zuidhoorn, somewhat testily, “the merest quibble! I have attended at, and presided over, so many sessions, that my question is, surely, a very natural one.”