Truxton tried hard to pierce the darkness, a strange thrill passing through his veins. The hidden speaker was unquestionably an American.
"What the devil does all this mean?" demanded the captive. "Where am I?"
"It means business, and you're here, that's where you are," was the sarcastic answer.
"Are you an American?"
"No. I'm a Chinaman."
"Oh, come off! Answer square."
"Well, I was born in Newport." As an afterthought: "Kentucky."
"You're in a damned nice business, I'll say that for you," growled Truxton. "Who is responsible for this outrage?"
He heard the man yawn prodigiously. "Depends on what you call an outrage."
"This is the damnedest high-handed outrage I've ever—"