I had a despairing hope that I might bluff it out, for I was in different clothes and had shaved my beard.

But you cannot spend ten minutes in a death-grapple without your adversary getting to know you.
He went very pale, then recollected himself and twisted his features into the old grin.
'So,' he said, 'the little Dutchmen! We meet after many days.' It was no good lying or saying anything.

I shut my teeth and waited.
'And you, Herr Blenkiron?
I never liked the look of you.

You babbled too much, like all your damned Americans.' 'I guess your personal dislikes haven't got anything to do with the matter,' said Blenkiron, calmly.

'If you're the boss here, I'll thank you to cast your eye over these passports, for we can't stand waiting for ever.' This fairly angered him.