Mortimer led him into the corridor.
“What is it?” he said. “Tell me in a whisper. We can’t go in there now.”
“Tompkins has just appeared,” said Rand in a hoarse whisper. “He was kidnaped and has just escaped. His story is most important.”
“Where is he now?”
“In his own office,” said Rand.
“Bring him here at once,” said Mortimer.
Rand disappeared on the run, and in less than three minutes returned with Tompkins, looking thin, worn, and exhausted. Tompkins then told how on that memorable morning when so many things happened he had gone early to the Secretary’s office with the message from Evans, and, not finding Mortimer, had returned to his own office, and how, when he next set out, Commander Rich had dealt with the situation.
“Commander Rich called you up and explained the situation, then handed me the phone,” he said. “You probably remember the conversation; as I recall it, you said, ‘It’s all right, give Commander Rich the message. It will excite less notice if you don’t keep coming to my office.’”
“You say I said that?” broke in Mortimer.
“Yes, sir.”