“I tell you, you idiot, that I have the right to enter this house and insist upon an interview with its mistress. Yes, and the right to remain here as its master. The lady is my wife. You are my servant. Go, and obey my commands, or neglect them at your peril.” Hanson changed his tone from light jesting to grave authority. But the huge Pompous, though deeply impressed by his words and manner, was not influenced in the direction Hanson wished. On the contrary, Pompous drew himself up and pushed himself out with solemn dignity, and answered with contemptuous indignation: “Yo-o-o? Now, sah, yo’ is offen yo’ head.” “Go, and open the door for me!” exclaimed Hanson, losing temper and self-control at the same moment. “Now yo’s offen yo’ head fo’ sho; ’f’aid yo’s been jinkin’ too f’ee, sah. Now, I ’wises ob yo’ to ’part peaceable, ’fo’ I hab to onchain dat dere wil’ beas’ wot aine got no ’spec’ fo’ nobody, an’ ’ould chaw a ge’man soon as she would a beef bone, an’ ’joy one as much as tudder.” “To the devil with you and your dog. Go open this door, or it will be the worse for you!” “Couldn’ do it at no price wotsomever. Now, take my ’wice, sah, an’ go w’ere yo’ got yo’ likker, an’ sleep it off.” “You impudent fool! What do you mean?” angrily demanded Hanson. “Now, sah, yo’s c’azy junk! Dere’s no use mincin’ ob de matter; yo’s mad junk. De wil’ way yo’ hab been talkin’ ’bout de youn’ mist’ess bein’ ob yo’ husban’—leastways, I mean yo’ bein’ ob her wife, proobes it. No, sah, take good ’wice, an’ go w’ere yo’ got de likker, an’ s’eep off de ’fec’s ob it.” “You confounded donkey! Understand that I shall stay here until I shall be admitted into the house I have the right to enter as its master and yours,” said Hanson angrily. “He’s awful junk,” muttered Pompous to himself, “junker dan I fus’ f’ought. I’ll hab to gib him one good scare ’long o’ Tige!” Then aloud he said: “Oh! Yo’ll stay here tell yo’ get ’mitted into de house, will yo’, sah? Den I shall hab to loose de doag, ’cordin’ to o’ders.” “Loose all the bloodhounds on the place, you insolent villain! I shall not stir from this spot!” savagely exclaimed Hanson. “All yight, sah. Ef yo’ wants ’em. Des as yo’ say. Dough I do fink as Tige will be much as yo’ can stan’,” said Pompous loftily as he strutted off to the kennels muttering to himself: “I’ll des gib him one good scare, anyway. Dough I doane mean to loose Tige on him, sho ’nuff, Lor’, no. I doane want to kill dat po’ intoxified creetur, nor likewise be hung fo’ de likes ob he. No, ’deed. But I’ll gib him one good scare,” he concluded as he reached the kennels and unchained the brute and brought her around to the front of the house. She was a terrible-looking creature, a huge black beast, with a bull head, fiery eyes, heavy jaws, strong fangs, great shoulders, thick limbs and sharp claws. She glared at the stranger with burning eyes and showed all her teeth with a deep, thunderous growl.