"I am."
"You know that part of the world well, I believe?"
"Intimately."
"And the languages spoken there?"
"By no means all. Russian and Tartar well; Turkish tolerably; with a smattering of two or three Circassian dialects."
"Humph! A fair list. Any Persian?"
"Only a few words."
"Humph! If you can learn one language I presume you can learn another.
Now, Mr. Thurnall, I have no doubt that you will do your duty in the
Turkish contingent."
Tom bowed.
"But I must ask you if your resolution to join it is fixed?"