it did not take staid long to spot the two , plainly dressed guards hovering inconspicuously nearby , and staid acknowledged them both with a look , ensuring that the men had identified him and silently returned his acknowledgment before he approached the young woman , who was now taking whiffs through bags of incense in front of a garrulous vendor who was too keen on showing forth the praises of his superbly mixed plants and spices to realize that the customer before him was not listening .