“Do you think Major Noltitz would consent?”
“A Russian is too gallant to refuse. I will ask him, if you like.”
“Thank you in advance. As to the second witness, I am rather in a difficulty. This Englishman, Sir Francis Trevellyan—”
“A shake of the head is all you will get from him.”
“Baron Weissschnitzerdörfer?”
“Ask that of a man who is doing a tour of the globe, and who would never get through a signature of a name of that length!”
“Then I can only think of Pan-Chao, unless we try Popof—”
“Either would do it with pleasure. But there is no hurry, Mr. Ephrinell, and when you get to Pekin you will have no difficulty in finding a fourth witness.”
“What! to Pekin? It is not at Pekin that I hope to marry Miss Bluett!”
“Where, then? At Sou Tcheou or Lan Tcheou, while we stop a few hours?”