“Then what’s the favor?”
“To establish our bona fides. To approve our being listed under different names than those on our passports.”
“Just that?”
“Yes.”
“But my dear sir” — Courtney was relieved and amused — “that’s nothing. Thousands of people travel incognito. You don’t need the sanction of the embassy for that!”
“That may be. But,” Wolfe persisted, “I thought it desirable to take this precaution. With all the restrictions imposed nowadays on people who wish to move around, or need to, I wanted to preclude any possibility of a snag. Also I prefer not to undertake lengthy explanations to a clerk in a steamship office. Will you phone them?”
Courtney smiled. “This is a pleasant surprise, Mr. Wolfe. Certainly I’ll phone them. I wish all the favors our fellow citizens ask for were as simple. And now I hope you won’t mind if I ask for a favor from you. After I told Mr. Teague, the Secretary, that you were coming here this afternoon, he must have spoken of it to the Ambassador, because he told me later that the Ambassador would like to meet you. So if you can spare a few minutes, after I phone?”
Wolfe was frowning. “She’s a woman.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“I must ask your forbearance. I’m tired clear to my bones, and I must catch a seven-o’clock plane to Genoa. Unless — will you take it ill and change your mind about phoning?”