It will be thought that Miss Sadie Graine got what she asked for. But who, surveying the course of his own life, can honestly say that he has not asked for something he yet hoped not to get?

It only remained to choose a farewell present for Miss Graine and give her a departmental party. Pylos, when asked for his advice regarding the gift, suggested a suitcase. The idea was proposed to the subscribing staff members, and met with such enthusiastic response that a set of Spanish language records was bought with the money left over.

There had been many farewell parties in DALTO since its inception, but none so well attended as the one given for Miss Graine. It was held at the end of the day, in a private room adjoining the Disarmament Council lounge. Drinks were served, with nuts and potato chips, and the merriment seemed at times almost saturnalian. When gaiety began to verge on rowdiness, Choudhury—who was looking particularly fit—called for silence, and Pylos made a short speech. It was a speech similar to many he had given before, expressing fervent appreciation for Miss Graine’s services, profound regret at her departure, and great pride that she had been selected for this difficult mission. He dwelt, with some office pleasantries, upon his own self-sacrifice, depicting himself as a man willing to renounce his own well-being for the greater good: Mr. Pylos, in effect, had loved not Caesar less, but Rome more. The response to his jokes was overwhelming, the ultimate applause deafening. The suitcase, and a box of records labeled “Never Too Late to Learn,” were brought forward. So was Miss Sadie Graine. Pylos made the presentation, calling her Sadie for the first time.

He had intended to kiss her on both cheeks, but could only rise to one when the moment came.

OFFICIAL LIFE

“Tuesdays are the worst,” Luba said. She was sitting on a chair in Ismet’s office taking off her waterproof boots. A succession of people had used the chair for the same purpose in the last fifteen minutes because the office coat-rack was just outside Ismet’s door. This annoyed Ismet in general, and he minded particularly when it was Luba.