It very nearly made _me_ burst, sir, I can tell you that!
I marvel not, for verily it is a lordly dwelling for such as thou.
"Lordly!" _You_ can call it what you like. _I_ call it a tom-fool cross between the Brighton Pavilion and the Palm-house at Kew! No billiard-room--and not a sign of any drainage system! And you have the brass--the--the unblushing effrontery to expect me to accept it as a first-class country-house with every modern convenience!
I _must_ say that, in all my professional experience, I _never_----
[_Rising and approaching MR. WACKERBATH._] I'd better explain, Mr. Wackerbath. It seems that my old--er--friend here has, with the mistaken notion that he was helping me, built this palace for you himself. I haven't _seen_ it--but, from what I know of his talents in that line, it can't be half a bad sort of place--in its way. And, anyhow, I shouldn't dream of making any charge under the circumstances. We make you a _present_ of it--perhaps you didn't understand _that_? So, surely you will accept it in the--the spirit in which it was intended, what?
_Accept_ it! See the finest position in the neighbourhood occupied by a jerry-built Moorish nightmare? Be the laughing-stock of the whole county? They'd call it "Wackerbath's Folly"! I won't have it on _my_ land a day longer than I can help! I'll go to law, sir, and _compel_ you and your officious partner here to pull the thing down! I--I'll fight the case as long as I can stand!
[_Who has been regarding him through this speech with glowering eyes._] "As long as thou canst stand"? That will be for no long period, O thou litigious one! [_He points at him with his forefinger._] On all fours--[_MR. WACKERBATH starts in speechless indignation, and bends slightly forward_]--thankless dog that thou art, and crawl henceforth for the remainder of thy days!
How _dare_ you address me in that way, sir! How----[_He suddenly drops forward on his hands._] I will _not_ go down on all fours! Do you hear, sir? I will not!
[_Horrified._] But--Great Heavens, sir, you _are_ on all fours!
[_Seizing FAKRASH'S arm._] Now, Fakrash--just you stop this!
[_Shaking HORACE off._] Let me be! [_To MR. WACKERBATH._] Begone, O contemptible of aspect! To thy kennel!