Mijnheer Van Arlen meant that his position was too important to allow of his doing so. The official bowed—he quite understood that.
“I happened to have your card lying here, and I thought you would be willing to do me that service.”
“Certainly, very much flattered. Can I be of any further service to your relative? Take him about anywhere? But I don’t speak English.”
“Oh, he speaks Dutch quite fluently,” replied Van Arlen; “if one did not know it already, one would never guess that he came from London. So it might be as well not to mention it.”
“Very good, sir.”
Mijnheer Talm was about to withdraw, with a low bow.
“By-the-by, Mijnheer Talm, is Department Y in order?”
“I thought there was no hurry about it.”
“The Minister has been asking me about it to-day, so I should be glad to have it as soon as possible.”
“I can promise to have it ready to-morrow.”