“I’ll be round Friday morning,” replied Mortimer.
Evans knew Mortimer’s habits well enough to be quite certain that this meant about eleven o’clock.
Next morning he went to the Bureau of Operations and sought Lieutenant Brown. This officer and his chief, Admiral Fraley, the Director of Naval Communications, were greatly disturbed by the refusal of the Bureau of Engineering to furnish the apparatus required for adapting their procedure to the improved British plan; they hardly knew what to do about it. Evans now told Brown to tell his chief that he had heard from some one in the Bureau of Engineering that Friday, a few minutes before eleven, would be a favorable time for him to see Admiral Bishop about the question of apparatus. This intimation was duly passed on to Admiral Fraley.
Acting on this intimation, Fraley called on Admiral Bishop just before eleven. He had scarcely opened the subject when Secretary Mortimer was announced. In spite of a good measure of self-possession, Admiral Fraley’s face revealed to Mortimer’s keen perception a trace of the annoyance which he naturally felt at losing his chance to present his case to Admiral Bishop. He started to withdraw, but Mortimer stopped him and said, “Don’t let me interrupt your conference.”
“I can come back some other time,” said Fraley.
“I’m here to promote, not obstruct, the work of the department,” said Mortimer. “I’m interested in everything that goes on, and if my presence doesn’t embarrass your freedom of speech, I’d really rather have you go on with your business; I’m in no hurry.”
Admiral Fraley hesitated a moment, then, as it flashed on him that Mortimer’s presence and interest might offer a rare opportunity of support from superior brains and authority, he stated his case. He explained how Lieutenant Brown’s report on British methods made it seem imperative that certain of their procedures depending on their new transmitter be adopted, and he further said he understood that those who had looked into the technical side of the matter were convinced that it could be done. He wondered what was the difficulty in the way of supplying the necessary apparatus, and whether there might not be some way of surmounting it, in view of the great tactical importance of conformity with the British in this respect.
Admiral Bishop was nothing if not pompous. He was senior in rank to Fraley. His round, red face became slightly redder at what appeared to be the airing of a difference of opinion in the presence of the Secretary. But with Mortimer’s keen eye upon him, he was aware that this was no matter to be put off with a display of authority and rank.
His manner was therefore affable enough as he replied: “In all matters pertaining to radio apparatus I rely on the judgment of Commander Rich, who is in charge of that division, and whose wisdom in such matters is quite unsurpassed. He gave me to understand that he had inquired into the matter thoroughly and could assure me that the alleged advantage of the British procedure amounted to practically nothing, and was certainly not worth making the expensive change involved in removing vast quantities of material already installed in the ships and replacing it with something comparatively new and untried, with which our operators are unfamiliar.”
Mortimer looked at Admiral Fraley, who appeared perplexed and rather taken aback.