Peter Gross's face did not change a muscle. Turning to the controlleur, he asked in a voice of unruffled calm: "May I speak to you privately, mynheer?"
Muller glanced apprehensively at Van Slyck. The fears inspired by his dreams made him more susceptible to ulterior impressions than the captain, whose naturally more acute sensibilities were blunted by the preconceived conviction that he had an ignorant Yankee to deal with. Van Slyck smiled cynically and observed:
"Am I in the way, Mynheer Gross?" Again the ironic accent to the mynheer. He rose to go, but Muller stayed him with the cry:
"Neen, neen, kapitein. Whatever comes from the governor concerns you, too. Stay with us, and we will see what his excellency has to say."
None knew the importance of first impressions better than the captain. If the new resident could be thwarted in his purpose of seeing Muller alone that achievement would exercise its influence on all their future relations, Van Slyck perceived.
Assuming an expression of indifference, he sank indolently into an easy chair. When he looked up he found the gray eyes of Peter Gross fixed full upon him.
"Perhaps I should introduce myself further, captain," Peter Gross said. "I am Mynheer Gross, of Batavia, your new resident by virtue of his excellency the Jonkheer Van Schouten's appointment."
Van Slyck's faint, cynical smile deepened a trifle.
"Ah, mynheer has been appointed resident," he remarked non-committally.
Peter Gross's face hardened sternly.