"Yes, I am he."
"Come into my office." René followed him, and they sat down to talk in the simply furnished front room.
The Secretary, then in young middle age, was a largely built man and portly, dark-eyed, with refined features and quick to express a certain conciliatory courtesy in his relations with others. He used gesture more freely than is common with men of our race, and both in voice and manner there was something which René felt to be engaging and attractive.
He liked him, and still more after a long talk in which the duties of the place were explained and his own indisposition to speak of his past life recognized with tactful courtesy.
Randolph said at last, "The office is yours if it please you to accept."
"I do so, sir, most gladly."
"Very good. I ought to say that Mr. Freneau had but two hundred and fifty dollars a year. It is all we can afford."
As René was still the helper of Schmidt, and well paid, he said it was enough. He added: "I am not of any party, sir. I have already said so, but I wish in regard to this to be definite."
"That is of no moment, or, in fact, a good thing. Your duties here pledge you to no party. I want a man of honor, and one with whom state secrets will be safe. Well, then, you take it? We seem to be agreed."