I managed to stammer out the word "Indeed?" I couldn't be surprised, and yet I could hardly stand erect from fear.
He glanced at the children to make sure they were out of earshot.
"It's from the great man himself—indirectly."
I was so near to collapse that I could only say, "Indeed?" again, though I rallied sufficiently to add, "I didn't know he was aware of my existence."
"Apparently he wasn't—but he is now. He desires you—I give you the verb as Spellman, the secretary, passed it on to me—he desires you to be in the breakfast loggia here at three this afternoon."
I could barely squeak the words out:
"Does he mean that he's coming to see me?"
"That, it seems, isn't necessary for you to know. Your business is to be there. There's quite a subtle point in the limitation. Being there, you'll see what will happen next. It isn't good for you to be told too much at a time."
My spirit began to revive.
"I'm not his servant. I'm Mrs. Rossiter's. If he wants anything of me why doesn't he say so through her?"