The room seemed a horribly unwholesome place, and I was more than ever afraid of Stumm.
The hearthrug was a wonderful old Persian thing, all faint greens and pinks.

As he stood on it he looked uncommonly like a bull in a china-shop.

He seemed to bask in the comfort of it, and sniffed like a satisfied animal.

Then he sat down at an escritoire, unlocked a drawer and took out some papers.
'We will now settle your business, friend Brandt,' he said.

'You will go to Egypt and there take your orders from one whose name and address are in this envelope.