It looked for a minute as if we were going to remain in there unquestioned.

But the two spies who had come with us saw a chance to confirm or else disprove our bona fides, and while one of them stayed and watched us the other went to fetch the Sheikh of the Mosque.
He came presently, waddling very actively for such a stout man--a big, burly, gray-bearded intellectual, with eyes that beamed intelligent good-humour through gold-rimmed glasses.

He did not seem at all pleased to have been disturbed, until he drew near enough to scan our faces.

Then his change of expression, as soon as he had looked once into Grim's eyes, gave me cold chills all down the back.

I could have sworn he was going to denounce us.
Instead, he turned on the two spies.