"Believe me, you will not find me ungrateful." "Ah! friend Kinko, I shall be paid, and more than paid!" "And how ?" "By relating, as soon as I can do so without danger to you, the particulars of your journey from Tiflis to Pekin.

Think now--what a heading for a column: 'A LOVER IN A BOX! ZINCA AND KINKO!! 1,500 LEAGUES THROUGH CENTRAL ASIA IN A LUGGAGE VAN!!!'" The young Roumanian could not help smiling.
"You need not be in too much of a hurry!" he said.
"Never fear! Prudence and discretion, as they say at the matrimonial agencies." Then I went to the door of the van to see that we were in no danger of surprise, and then the conversation was resumed.

Naturally, Kinko asked me how I had discovered his secret.

I told him all that had passed on the steamer during the voyage across the Caspian.

His breathing had betrayed him.