There, deliberately, I tapped twice.

The sound of my knock on the door reminded me of another occasion—on which I’d presented myself alone before the Governor, that afternoon at the Near Oriental; that first interview in his office.

This tête-à-tête—the first in his own home—was going to be very different!


CHAPTER XIII
THE FIRST TÊTE-À-TÊTE

A rather surprised voice called “Come in!”

In I went—to find the Governor smoking a cigarette and sitting on the wide red-leather-padded club-fender of a room that was in complete contrast to the feminine domain I had left. Almost empty, but for its tall bookshelves, a grandfather’s clock, a couple of solid, “man-ny-looking” arm-chairs and a grand piano.

I dropped my voice into its meekest Near Oriental tone as I announced:

“Your coffee, Mr. Waters!”