This one also wants to see the president.
“The president is in conference just now,” the young man replies. “Perhaps there is something I can do for you in the meanwhile if you will tell me what you want.”
“It's none of your business,” he answers rudely. “I want the president.”
The chances are against a man of this sort. He may be a person the president wants to see, but the odds are ten to one that he is not.
“I'm sorry but you cannot possibly see him now. He is busy.”
“When will he be free?”
“It is hard to tell. These conferences sometimes last an hour or two, and I am sure he will not see you even then unless you tell him why you want to see him. He is a very busy man.”
The visitor sputters around a few minutes and it develops that he is selling insurance. The young man knows that the president will not see him under any circumstances. He is already heavily insured, as every wise man should be, and he cannot be bothered with agents who are trying to sell him larger policies.
“I'm sorry,” the young man repeats, “but I am sure there is no use in letting him waste your time. He is already carrying a heavy policy and he positively refuses to talk insurance with anyone, no matter who it is.”
This should be enough for the salesman. What the young man says is true. It would be a waste of his time as well as the president's. He does not care half so much for the salesman's time—there is no reason why he should—but notice how tactfully he tells him that the head of the organization has no time to spend with him.