"It is perfectly true," said I, "that I am your only guest."
"Ah, the Englishman!" said the lieutenant, suspiciously. "We are
looking for a person by the name of Hillars whom we are charged to
arrest. Do you know anything about him?"
"It is not probable," said I, nonchalantly.
I glanced at Gretchen. I could fathom nothing there.
"Well," snarled the lieutenant, "I suppose you will not object to my
seeing your passports?"
"Not in the least," said I. But I felt a shock. The word "American"
was written after the nationality clause in my passports. I was in for
some excitement on my own account. If I returned from my rooms saying
that I could not find my passports they would undoubtedly hold me till
the same were produced. "I'll go and bring them for you," said I. I
wanted some time in which to mature a plan of action, if action became
necessary.
There was rather a sad expression in Gretchen's eyes. She understood
to a fuller extent than I what was likely to follow when it was found
that I had misrepresented myself. I cursed the folly which had led me
to say that I was English.
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