CHAPTER XVII

The great doors clanged behind them, and Vernon, who had been given the key by the guards, turned it in the lock. In spite of the reassuring word he had spoken to Maris he thought that his companion might attack him, so he steered wide of him and in the inky darkness fell over a basket of logs. The mishap wrung from him a very English expletive. Then he shouted on Mitri to bring a light. He heard Maris's excited voice. "Who are you? Who in God's name are you? Are you English?" "Of course I am English. Confound it, …