I am responsible for nobody.

What have I to do with the characters of my servants, my lacqueys." "But you assured me that your bills often passed through his hands." Mr.John fancied that the best way out of this unpleasant _cul-de-sac_ was by adopting a little energetic bluffing.
"What do you mean by cross-examining me in my own house ?" he cried, with affected _hauteur_, springing from the sofa.
The magistrate rose at the same time.
"Pardon me, but I am here not as a visitor, but in my official capacity--as your judge." And with that he coolly unbuttoned his _attila_[40] and drew forth from the inside pocket a large sealed letter.
[Footnote 40: A fur pelisse, worn on state occasions.] "You must swear to every one of the interrogatories administered to you by me." "I?
I'll swear to nothing," cried Mr.John.

"I am a Quaker and therefore cannot take an oath." "This document, sir, is a royal mandate and whoever refuses to obey it is liable to penalties." "What penalties ?" "A fine of eighty florins." "Eighty florins?
There you are then, take them!" cried Mr.John flinging down the amount eagerly and thinking to himself that this mandate was indeed a juridical masterpiece, not being binding on a rich man--for what after all is eighty florins?
"Very good," said Mr.Monori, giving him a receipt for the amount, "I'll come again to-morrow." "What for ?" "I shall again call upon you to answer my interrogatories upon oath." "And if I won't swear ?" "Why then you'll have to pay the court fine _toties-quoties_.

A _juratus tabulae regiae notarius_ will call regularly every day and exact the fine from you until such time as you make up your mind to take the oaths.

Good-day." After the magistrate had withdrawn Mr.John's fury reached its climax.
First of all he poured forth his wrath upon the poor inkstand, with the ink from which Monori had written out the receipt.