I had no more time to be scared, or to regret my past sins, than has a man in a quicksand.

So far as I could make out, they were divided in opinion concerning me.

Rupert of Hentzau, who was the adjutant or the chief of staff, had only one simple thought, which was to shoot me.

Others considered me a damn fool; I could hear them laughing and saying: "Er ist ein dummer Mensch." And others thought that whether I was a fool or not, or an American or an Englishman, was not the question; I had seen too much and should be put away.

I felt if, instead of having Rupert act as my interpreter, I could personally speak to the general I might talk my way out of it, but Rupert assured me that to set me free the Count de Schwerin lacked authority, and that my papers, which were all against me, must be submitted to the general of the army corps, and we would not reach him until midnight.
"And then!--" he would exclaim, and he would repeat his pantomime of pointing his forefinger at my stomach and wiggling his thumb.