"Well, Marslandt" — the voice was deep and marked with a distinctly foreign accent — "you haff been here one week now."

"One week today," replied Cliff.

"That is goot," declared Orlinov. "I hope you haff liked it. You are to stay a long while, you know."

"It's all the same to me."

Orlinov's eyes opened momentarily; then closed as the Russian continued in a reflective tone.

"I may haff a visitor tonight," he said. "It iss very important that we should not be disturbed. You understandt?"

"Yes, sir."

"I think I haff toldt you about the man that wass here before you, nein?"

"You mean your last secretary?"

"Yess. He wass a man who spoke Russian, which was goot. But he wass a man who made mistakes. Not like these others who are here. He was not like you."