“Yes. At all events I refuse to allow you or any one else to browbeat her. We have nearly lost our lives here; and now, when she is all to pieces, you not only take us for a couple of murderous ruffians and want to arrest us, but you try this sort of infernal nonsense.”

I left him in no doubt that I was English, and voluble enough, too. He shrugged his shoulders, and told his chief the result of the test; and they whispered together.

“You are Robert Garrett of Wyrley Hall, Great Malverton?” he asked me then in English.

“I’ve told you who I am.”

“Then how is it that Robert Anstruther in the letter of credit, is described as of that address?”

“Can’t one relative live with another?” I laughed.

“Permit me to see the address on the passport.”

“There is none. You ought to know that;” and with a scoff I unfolded it and shewed him.

“I don’t mean there. I mean on the outside, where the name and address are both written.”

“I am going to be baited no longer,” I rattled back sharply, and was putting the papers away again when he snatched them from me. A glance was enough to prove the inconsistency of my statement; and he reported this to his chief, who put my papers away and rose.