"Go away," he said spiritlessly, "I've just told two people that you don't exist."
"But my wife wants that trap removed—it's dangerous for the children," George complained.
The Administrative Officer almost shouted to hell with George's children, but basically he was a decent man, even if an overworked one, and he caught himself in time.
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely, picking up some letters that he had already read, "but we've got to leave the traps."
"Then what will I tell my wife?" George demanded.
That stopped the Administrative Officer, too. He buried his head in his hands and thought for a long moment. "Are you sure you really exist?" he asked, finally raising his head from his hands.
"Sure," George said. "Do you want me to bite you to prove it?"
"No, you needn't bother," the Administrative Officer said. And then he buried his head in his hands again.
"Technically," he said, speaking through his fingers, "it's a security problem."
With an air of relief, he picked up the phone and called the Security Officer. There was a bit of spirited conversation and then he hung up.