Then we were ushered into a big room with a polished floor on which Peter nearly sat down.

There was a log fire burning, and seated at a table was a little man in spectacles with his hair brushed back from his brow like a popular violinist.

He was the boss, for the lieutenant saluted him and announced our names.

Then he disappeared, and the man at the table motioned us to sit down in two chairs before him.
'Herr Brandt and Herr Pienaar ?' he asked, looking over his glasses.
But it was the other man that caught my eye.

He stood with his back to the fire leaning his elbows on the mantelpiece.