"Welcome, Mynheer Gross, to Bulungan. I wish I could say more, but I cannot. The most I can say is that I am happy his excellency has at last yielded to my petition and has relieved me of a portion of my duties. It is a hard, hard residency to govern, mynheer."
"A splendid start," Van Slyck muttered to himself under his breath.
"So I have been informed, mynheer," Peter Gross replied gravely. "Pardon me a moment."
He turned toward Van Slyck: "Captain, I have a letter for you also from his excellency. It will inform you of my appointment."
"It would be better form, perhaps, mynheer, for me to receive his excellency's commands at Fort Wilhelmina," Van Slyck replied suavely, delighted at being able to turn the tables.
"Very true, very true, kapitein, if you insist," Peter Gross agreed quietly. "I hope to visit you at the fort within the hour. In the mean time you will excuse Mynheer Muller and me."
For the second time a cold chill of doubt seized Van Slyck. Was it possible that he had misjudged his man? If he had, it was doubly dangerous to leave Muller alone with him. He resolved to force the issue.
"A thousand pardons, mynheer," he apologized smilingly. "Mynheer Muller just now requested me to remain."
A swift change came into the face of Peter Gross. His chin shot forward; in place of the frank simplicity on which Van Slyck had based his estimate was a look of authority.
"Mynheer Muller cancels that invitation at my request," he announced sternly.