* * *
Otto came into the room on silent feet.
“A gentleman to see you, sir,” he said.
The senator stiffened upright in his chair.
“What do you mean by sneaking up on me?” he shouted. “Always pussyfooting. Trying to startle me. After this you cough or fall over a chair or something so I’ll know that you’re around.”
“Sorry, sir,” said Otto. “There’s a gentleman here. And there are those letters on the desk to read.”
“I’ll read the letters later,” said the senator.
“Be sure you don’t forget,” Otto told him, stiffly.
“I never forget,” said the senator. “You’d think I was getting senile, the way you keep reminding me.”
“There’s a gentleman to see you,” Otto said patiently. “A Mr. Lee.”