it—the way it was phrased, at any rate.”
“Even when personally confirmed to selected visitors by the President?” asked William Hill.
“Not simply
me
, Mr. Trevayne. The
office
of the President of the United States. Whoever that man is, he’s a tall fellow to call a liar. Especially in an area like this.”
Trevayne looked over at both men. He was beginning to understand, but the picture was still out of focus. “Is it … was it necessary to create the confusion? Does it matter whether I take the job, or someone else?”
“Apparently it does, Mr. Trevayne,” answered Hill. “We know the proposed subcommittee is being watched; that’s understandable. But we weren’t sure of the intensity. We surfaced your name and then proceeded to deny—vehemently deny—your acceptance. It should have been enough to send the curious out speculating on other nominees. It wasn’t. They were sufficiently concerned to dig further, dig until they learned the truth.”
“What the Ambassador means—forgive me, Bill—is that the possibility of your heading up the subcommittee was so alarming to so many people that they went to extraordinary lengths to ascertain your status. They had to make sure you were out. They discovered otherwise, and rapidly spread the word. Obviously in preparation.”
“Mr. President, I assume this subcommittee, if it functions properly, will touch a great many people. Of course, it’ll be watched. I expected that.”
William Hill leaned forward over his desk. “Watched?… What we’ve described goes far beyond the meaning of the word ‘watched’ as I understand it. You may be assured that large sums of money have been exchanged, old debts called in, a number of dangerous embarrassments threatened.These things had to happen, or a different conclusion would have been arrived at.”
“Our purpose,” said the President, “is to make you aware, to alert you. This is a frightened city, Mr. Trevayne. It’s frightened of you.”
Andrew slowly put down his glass on the small table next to the chair. “Are you suggesting, Mr. President, that I reconsider the appointment?”
“Not for a minute. And if Frank Baldwin knows what he’s talking about, you’re not the sort of man who’d be affected by this kind of thing. But you have to understand. This isn’t an interim government appointment made to a respected member of the business community for the sake of mollifying a few outraged voices. We are committed—I am committed—to see it produce results. It must follow that there will be a considerable degree of ugliness.”
“I think I’m prepared for that.”
“Are you?” asked Hill, leaning back once again in his chair. “That’s very important, Mr. Trevayne.”
“I believe so. I’ve thought it over, talked it out at length with my wife … my very discreet wife. I have no illusions that it’s a popular assignment.”
“Good. It’s necessary you understand that … as the President says.” Hill picked up a file folder from the large maroon blotter on his table-desk. It was inordinately thick, bulky, and held together by wide metal hasps. “May we dwell for a minute on something else?”
“Of course.” Trevayne looked at Hill as he answered, but he could feel the President’s stare. He turned, and the President instantly shifted his eyes to the Ambassador. It was an uncomfortable moment.
“This is your dossier, Mr. Trevayne,” said Hill, holding the file horizontally, as if weighing it. “Damned heavy, wouldn’t you say?”
“Compared to the few I’ve seen. I can’t imagine its being very interesting.”
“Why do you say that?” asked the President, smiling.
“Oh, I don’t know.… My life hasn’t been filled with the sort of events that make for exciting fiction.”
“Any man who reaches the level of wealth you did before he’s forty makes fascinating reading,” said Hill.“One reason for the size of this file is that I kept requesting
“Even when personally confirmed to selected visitors by the President?” asked William Hill.
“Not simply
me
, Mr. Trevayne. The
office
of the President of the United States. Whoever that man is, he’s a tall fellow to call a liar. Especially in an area like this.”
Trevayne looked over at both men. He was beginning to understand, but the picture was still out of focus. “Is it … was it necessary to create the confusion? Does it matter whether I take the job, or someone else?”
“Apparently it does, Mr. Trevayne,” answered Hill. “We know the proposed subcommittee is being watched; that’s understandable. But we weren’t sure of the intensity. We surfaced your name and then proceeded to deny—vehemently deny—your acceptance. It should have been enough to send the curious out speculating on other nominees. It wasn’t. They were sufficiently concerned to dig further, dig until they learned the truth.”
“What the Ambassador means—forgive me, Bill—is that the possibility of your heading up the subcommittee was so alarming to so many people that they went to extraordinary lengths to ascertain your status. They had to make sure you were out. They discovered otherwise, and rapidly spread the word. Obviously in preparation.”
“Mr. President, I assume this subcommittee, if it functions properly, will touch a great many people. Of course, it’ll be watched. I expected that.”
William Hill leaned forward over his desk. “Watched?… What we’ve described goes far beyond the meaning of the word ‘watched’ as I understand it. You may be assured that large sums of money have been exchanged, old debts called in, a number of dangerous embarrassments threatened.These things had to happen, or a different conclusion would have been arrived at.”
“Our purpose,” said the President, “is to make you aware, to alert you. This is a frightened city, Mr. Trevayne. It’s frightened of you.”
Andrew slowly put down his glass on the small table next to the chair. “Are you suggesting, Mr. President, that I reconsider the appointment?”
“Not for a minute. And if Frank Baldwin knows what he’s talking about, you’re not the sort of man who’d be affected by this kind of thing. But you have to understand. This isn’t an interim government appointment made to a respected member of the business community for the sake of mollifying a few outraged voices. We are committed—I am committed—to see it produce results. It must follow that there will be a considerable degree of ugliness.”
“I think I’m prepared for that.”
“Are you?” asked Hill, leaning back once again in his chair. “That’s very important, Mr. Trevayne.”
“I believe so. I’ve thought it over, talked it out at length with my wife … my very discreet wife. I have no illusions that it’s a popular assignment.”
“Good. It’s necessary you understand that … as the President says.” Hill picked up a file folder from the large maroon blotter on his table-desk. It was inordinately thick, bulky, and held together by wide metal hasps. “May we dwell for a minute on something else?”
“Of course.” Trevayne looked at Hill as he answered, but he could feel the President’s stare. He turned, and the President instantly shifted his eyes to the Ambassador. It was an uncomfortable moment.
“This is your dossier, Mr. Trevayne,” said Hill, holding the file horizontally, as if weighing it. “Damned heavy, wouldn’t you say?”
“Compared to the few I’ve seen. I can’t imagine its being very interesting.”
“Why do you say that?” asked the President, smiling.
“Oh, I don’t know.… My life hasn’t been filled with the sort of events that make for exciting fiction.”
“Any man who reaches the level of wealth you did before he’s forty makes fascinating reading,” said Hill.“One reason for the size of this file is that I kept requesting
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