twelve o’clock to-day? I’m not going to allow any overtime now.
EX-PRES. That settles it, then, Tumulty. And that means you are to
go. I had just been saying, my dear, how much simpler it was to obey
orders than to give and to get them obeyed.
THE PRESENCE. Getting them obeyed is quite simple. It is merely a
matter of how you give them.
EX-PRES. You see, Tumulty--it’s all a matter of “how.”
THE PRESENCE. There’s someone waiting to speak to you on the ’phone:
wants to know how you are. I thought I would come and see first.
EX-PRES. Who is it?
THE PRESENCE (_indicating the receiver_). He’s there.
(_The Ex-President reaches out his hand, and Tumulty from
an adjoining table gives him the instrument. As he
listens, they stand watching him._)
EX-PRES. Oh, yes.... That’s very kind of him.... Please will you tell
the President, with my best thanks, that I am greatly enjoying my
holiday.... Thank you.... Good-bye.
(_He gives the instrument back to the waiting Tumulty._)
TUMULTY (_with swelling bosom_). Governor, that was a great answer!
EX-PRES. Easily said, Tumulty. But is it true?
(_But Tumulty’s breast is such a platform for the generous
emotions that he does not really care whether it is
true or not. And therein, between himself and his
hero, lies the difference. Grasping his fallen leader
forcefully by the hand and murmuring his adieux in
a voice of nobly controlled emotion, he obeys the
waiting eye of the Gracious Presence, and goes. And as
she sees him serenely to the door, the Ex-President
looks ruefully at his painfully oversqueezed hand, and
begins rubbing it softly. Even the touch of a friend
sometimes hurts._)
(_The door closes: the two are alone. She
who-must-be-obeyed stands looking at him with a
benevolent eye._)
_Printed in Great Britain
by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld.,
London and Aylesbury._
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:
Obsolete and alternative spellings were not changed. The book number
on the second page is hand-written. Whether it was written by the
author, or someone else, is unknown.
Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like
this_.
‘Make’ was changed to ‘may’ ... you may take him away ...