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           Andmind,ifyouappearbeforeusagain,uponanychargewhatever,weshallhavetodealwithyouveryseriously!"

           ThenthebrutalminionsofthelawfelluponthehaplessToad;loadedhimwithchains,anddraggedhimfromtheCourtHouse,shrieking,praying,protesting;acrossthemarket-place,wheretheplayfulpopulace,alwaysassevereupondetectedcrimeastheyaresympatheticandhelpfulwhenoneismerely"wanted,"assailedhimwithjeers,carrots,andpopularcatch-words;pasthootingschoolchildren,theirinnocentfaceslitupwiththepleasuretheyeverderivefromthesightofagentlemanindifficulties;acrossthehollow-soundingdrawbridge,belowthespikyportcullis,underthefrowningarchwayofthegrimoldcastle,whoseancienttowerssoaredhighoverhead;pastguardroomsfullofgrinningsoldieryoffduty,pastsentrieswhocoughedinahorrid,sarcasticway,becausethatisasmuchasasentryonhispostdaredotoshowhiscontemptandabhorrenceofcrime;uptime-wornwindingstairs,pastmen-at-armsincasquetandcorseletofsteel,dartingthreateninglooksthroughtheirvizards;acrosscourtyards,wheremastiffsstrainedattheirleashandpawedtheairtogetathim;pastancientwarders,theirhalberdsleantagainstthewall,dozingoverapastyandaflagonofbrownale;onandon,pasttherack-chamberandthethumbscrew-room,pasttheturningthatledtotheprivatescaffold,tilltheyreachedthedoorofthegrimmestdungeonthatlayintheheartoftheinnermostkeep