The Governor was still smoking leisurely and keeping his eye on his flower-beds.
"Gardener, don't you think that bed of geraniums...." he began, but Stowell could bear no more.
"Good God, Sir, isn't this matter of sufficient importance to merit your attention?"
The Governor turned sharply upon him, threw away his half-smoked cigar and said,
"Come this way."
Not another word was spoken until, returning to the house with a certain pomp of stride, with Stowell behind him, the Governor reached his room and closed the door behind him. Then, unlocking his desk, he took out a large envelope (the same that Fenella had seen at breakfast) and handed the contents of it to Stowell, saying,
"Look at that."
Stowell saw at a glance what it was and uttered a cry of astonishment.
"Then it's done."
"Yes, it's done. And now sit down and listen to me."