Fully alive now to the time-killing purpose of the clever little
machinator in arranging to have spent batteries given him, Blount,
nevertheless, did his duty like a man, and the pair made a late descent
upon the Gordon dinner-table. Though the dinner was informal, there were
other guests besides the senator's party, and among them the traffic
manager. Blount, sitting next to Patricia, made their tardiness an
excuse and devoted himself to her, thus escaping the toils of the
general table-talk, which was frankly political. But at the adjournment
to the drawing-room he cornered Gantry.
"I meant to hunt you up this afternoon," he began, "but I was otherwise
spoken for. What have you done?"
"I've cabled a conditional acceptance of the offer I was telling you
about."
"But you haven't resigned?"
"No. Mr. McVickar will probably be here within a day or two, and I'll
make it verbal."
Yielding to the urgings of the younger Gordon, Patricia was going to the
piano, and Blount snatched at his opportunity.
"Give me a few minutes in the smoking-room," he said to the traffic
manager, and when the privacy was secured: "You needn't resign, Dick.
There isn't going to be any earthquake--of the kind you were fearing."
"You don't mean that the Honorable Senator has turned you down, Evan?"
"Just that."
"I'm sorry," said the friend in need, feeling his way cautiously.
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