“It’s all right, sir, I suppose?”
“Perfectly right,” said I. — “But highly confidential,” added the President. “And you will put me under a personal obligation, Mr. Jones, and at the same time fulfill your duty to your employers, if you preserve silence till the transaction is officially announced. A man who serves me does not regret it.”
Here he was making the most of another opportunity—Jones this time.
“Enough of this,” I said. “I will go over the matter in the morning, and meanwhile hadn’t you better go back to—”
“Mrs. Jones,” interjected his Excellency. “And mind, silence, Mr. Jones!”
He walked up to Jones as he said this, and looked hard at him.
“Silent men prosper best, and live longest, Mr. Jones.”
Jones looked into his steely eyes, and suddenly fell all of a tremble.
The President was satisfied. He abruptly pushed him out of the room, and we heard his shambling steps going up the staircase.
His Excellency turned to me, and said with apparent annoyance: