I have presented my passport and demand common courtesy." "Your passport is worthless, I tell you!" he cried.

"There, that's how much it is worth to me!" And snatching it up he tore it in half and tossed the pieces of blue paper in my face.
My blood was up at this insult, yet I bit my lips and remained quite calm.
"Perhaps you will kindly tell me who you are ?" I asked in as quiet a voice as I could command.
"With pleasure.

I am Michael Boranski, Chief of Police of the Province of Abo-Biornebourg." "Ah! Well, Michael Boranski, I shall trouble you to pick up my passport, stick it together again, and apologize to me." "Apologize! Me apologize!" And the fellow laughed aloud, while the police officers on either side of me grinned from ear to ear.
"You refuse ?" "Refuse?
Certainly I do!" "Very well, then," I said, re-opening my pocket-book and taking out an open letter.

"Perhaps you will kindly glance at that.

It is in Russian, so you can read it." He snatched it from me with ill-grace, but not without curiosity.