“Five minutes ago.”
“You—you called him up?”
“No. He called me up.”
Drexel caught at hope. “What did he say?”
“He said to tell you, when you had finished, to come back to him.”
Sabatoff!
“The transfer of these prisoners may seem all right to him,” the governor went on, suddenly flaring into anger. “But to remove them on the very first day I am in charge, it is an insult—it is casting doubt on my watchfulness and trustworthiness.”
So that was the meaning of the governor’s black manner! He had been pricked in his professional pride, and since he dared not vent his spleen on those above he was venting it on their agent.
“Come, colonel,” said Drexel soothingly. “I understand. I am more sorry than you that it is necessary for me to be here on this errand. Can I say more?”
The scowl slowly lifted from the governor’s face. “Pardon me, captain. I should have remembered that we are both mere order-obeying machines.” He held out his hand. “We might as well be friends. I’ve heard much of you, Captain Laroque, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”