Diana's voice suddenly deepened and softened. "Ah, but you do deserve
it, dear Mr. Secretary. You deserve all that grateful citizens can do
for you, and even then we cannot expect to discharge our full debt to
you. Here's my house. Perhaps when you're not too busy, you'll ask me
to dine again with you."
Enoch did not reply. He stood with bared head while she ran up the
steps. Then he reentered the cab and was driven home. But it was not
till two weeks later that Enoch sent a note to Diana, asking her to
take dinner with him. Even his diary during that period showed no
record of his inward flagellations. He did not receive an answer until
late in the afternoon.
It had been an exceptionally hectic day. Enoch had been summoned
before the Senate Committee on appropriations, and with the director of
the Reclamation Service had endured a grilling that had had some
aspects of the third degree.
After some two hours of it the Director had lost his temper.
"Gentlemen!" he had cried, "treat me as if I were a common thief,
attempting to loot the public funds, if you find satisfaction in it,
but at least do not humiliate the Secretary of the Interior in the same
manner!"
"These people can't humiliate me, Whipple.
Pages:
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182