His mouth quivered, as if he would have spoken; but he remained dumb.
The hand that held his cigarette, resting on his knee, relaxed; the cigarette fell, smoldering, to the metal plate.

And on the instant the fire in it died, extinguished by some invisible force.
"Are you prepared to sign a receipt for this airship, if I deliver her over to you, sir ?" demanded the Master, still speaking in French.

He smiled oddly.
No answer.

A certain swelling of the Frenchman's throat became visible, and his lips twitched slightly, but no sound was audible.

A dull flush mounted over his bronzed cheek.
"Ah, you do not answer ?" asked the other, with indulgent patronage.
"I assume, however, that you have the authority to accept my surrender and that of my crew.