'I intend to hang you--unless a spirit of mollycoddleism commutes the sentence to one of penal servitude for life. Look here, my lad. Lord or no lord, don't you take me for a fool. If you don't satisfy me inside five minutes I'll have a warrant for you in an hour.' I rang the bell.
'What's that for?'
A servant came.
'Fetch a constable at once.'
Mr. Acrodato seemed unhappy.
'Don't you--don't you be a fool!'
He turned to the man at the door.
'Don't you do anything of the kind.'
'You heard what I said?'
The servant was withdrawing when Mr. Acrodato became excited.