All that I require is that one word from you." "And if I give you that one word ?" Mr.Dunster asked.
"If you give it me, as I think you will," Mr.Fentolin replied suavely, "I shall then telegraph to my agent, or rather I should say to a dear friend of mine who lives at The Hague, and that single word will be cabled by him from The Hague to New York." "And in that case," Mr.Dunster enquired, "what would become of me ?" "You would give us the great pleasure of your company here for a very brief visit," Mr.Fentolin answered.

"We should, I can assure you, do our very best to entertain you." "And the dispatch which I am carrying to The Hague ?" "Would remain here with you." Mr.Dunster knocked the ash from his cigar.

Without being a man of great parts, he was a shrewd person, possessed of an abundant stock of common sense.

He applied himself, for a few moments, to a consideration of this affair, without arriving at any satisfactory conclusion.
"Come, Mr.Fentolin," he said at last, "you must really forgive me, but I can't see what you're driving at.

You are an Englishman, are you not ?" "I am an Englishman," Mr.Fentolin confessed "or rather," he added, with ghastly humour, "I am half an Englishman." "You are, I am sure," Mr.Dunster continued, "a person of intelligence, a well-read person, a person of perceptions.