Counsel for the Russian Consulate bowed, as did Mr. Munjoy; but Henry D. Feldman cleared his throat with a great rasping noise that penetrated to the corridor without. This was the signal, and Abe and Morris entered the room supporting the old Rabbi, who was followed by Pincus Levin. "One moment, sir," Feldman said. "I have a preliminary objection to make. Will you hear the offer, sir?" The commissioner nodded and Steuermann and his counsel Mr. Munjoy, turned to Feldman in amazement. "What's all this, Feldman?" Munjoy cried. Feldman waved his hand impressively. "My objection is, sir, that a gross fraud has been practised on this court. It has come to my attention that somebody connected with this proceeding has furnished a material witness for the defense with a ticket for Chicago and one thousand rubles as a bribe to stay away from the hearing." Counsel for the complainant jumped to his feet. "This is preposterous!" he declared. "By no means," Feldman continued. "Will you direct counsel not to interrupt me, sir, if you please?" "I so direct," the commissioner replied, whereat Feldman again cleared his throat and coughed twice, and, in answer to this cue, Yosel Levin, alias Joseph Harkavy, entered the room. "The person so bribed, Mr. Commissioner, is named in the petition as the _corpus delicti_ of the crime alleged to have been committed," Feldman said. "What!" Munjoy and opposing counsel cried in unison, and the clerk to the consulate reached for his hat and started for the door. His counsel leaped after him, however, and succeeded in catching his coat-tails just as he was about to disappear into the hall. With one hand still grasping the consular clerk, counsel for the complainant turned to the commissioner. "I think my client wants to consult me outside for one minute," he said. "Have I your consent to withdraw?" The commissioner nodded and Munjoy turned to Feldman. "What the deuce are you trying to do, Feldman?" he asked as complainant's counsel returned. "If the commissioner pleases," Feldman said, "we consent to a dismissal of the extradition proceedings and to a discharge of the prisoner." The imperturbable commissioner bowed and rose to his feet. "Submit the necessary papers for the prisoner's discharge, gentlemen," he said. "The hearing is closed." * * * * * "Five dollars for doing what that feller done is like picking it up in the street, Mawruss!" Abe declared to Mawruss when they received the doctor's bill a month later. "How could we be small about it, Abe?" Morris rejoined. "Look at what Steuermann done! Not only he is paying his lawyers for getting this Kovalenko out of prison but he is taking that young feller and paying for him he should go on with his studying for a doctor." "Well, the way doctors soak you, Mawruss," Abe said, looking at the bill which he held in his hand, "it wouldn't be long before Kovalenko pays him back with interest, I bet yer."