"Waiting for his excellency. We have been here something past an hour."
"What's the trouble?" Carmichael inquired.
"Your excellency knows as much as I do," said the officer, who was in fact no less than the sub-chief of the bureau.
"And I am in the dark, also," said Grumbach, twirling his hat.
Carmichael walked about, studying the many curios. Occasionally Grumbach wiped his forehead, and, absently, the inner rim of his hat. Perhaps the three of them waited twenty minutes; then the chancellor came in. He bowed cordially and drew chairs about his desk. He placed Grumbach in the full glare of the lamp. Carmichael and the sub-chief were in the half-light. The chancellor was last to seat himself.
"Herr Grumbach," said the chancellor in a mild tone, "I should like to see your papers."
"My passports, your Excellency?"
"Yes."
Grumbach laid them on the desk imperturbably. The chancellor struck the bell. His valet answered immediately.
"Send Breunner, the head gardener, at once."