They arranged themselves around the room.
"I don't suppose you'd care for a drink?"
"I'd be delighted," George said.
Bud, solemn faced, mixed the drinks, talking over his shoulder. "I hope you haven't taken our Committee report as a rejection of your generous offer.... You understand? I want to explain my position—what we, you and I, can do.... There we are." He turned from his labors and handed the drinks around.
"Norma, Herb. I wonder if you'd mind if George and I stepped in there?"
"It's all right with us," Norma said.
Bud and the Oligarch went into the study. Bud closed the door.
"Now," he said. Ambition was a sickness in him. This is the boy I've got to sell, he thought. That's all I've got to do: sell him. Once he's sold, the rest will follow. Ambition was like a hunger, and success hung in the air like smoke. "We can have a nice, private talk. I'm sure you'll appreciate my rather delicate position."
George swirled ice and smiled.
"Norma tells me you can speak for your government?"