"There, Fritzy!" said he. "You see James was only 'respectful to her in a perfectly friendly way.' I hope you are quite satisfied?"
"I am," answered Frederik. "Quite. In fact I'm every bit as satisfied as you are, uncle."
Grimm sat very still for a moment or so, staring blindly into space, his head on his breast. Then, with a sigh, he roused himself. Reaching for the telephone he called up his office.
"Send Mr. Hartmann over here," he commanded.
He set down the instrument and resumed his blank stare into nothingness. Frederik was once more wholly engrossed in the book he was not reading. Hartmann broke in upon the strained silence.
"You sent for me, sir?" he asked, his breezy bigness waking the still room to life.
"Yes," replied Peter Grimm. "James, it has occurred to me—to ask—it has occurred to me that—James, please tell me your reason for asking a few minutes ago to be transferred to Florida?"
James made no immediate reply. He seemed ransacking his mind for the right words. Grimm eyed him closely, asking with sudden directness:
"Was it on account of my little girl?"
"Yes, sir," replied Hartmann.