“Well, I think it would be very good for the party and the country if you nominated me tomorrow night. It would bring us together better than anything I can think of.”

“And whom were you thinking of for your running mate?”

“I think the senior senator from Pennsylvania,” Stanton said. “With Pete Otero, we’d have two westerners as running mates. I think an easterner would be better for the ticket.”

That, Kate thought, is the worst possible ticket I can think of. “I’m sure your reasoning is sound, Marty.”

“And with you in the wings, waiting to take over at State, well, that would be like having another running mate.”

“You’d announce me for State before the general election?”

“I don’t think that would be presumptuous, given your stature.”

“Did you consider a woman as a running mate?” she asked coyly.

Stanton took a sip of his drink. “If you’ll forgive my saying so, Kate,” he said, “I think that perhaps since the country has had a Lee in office for eight years, it might be a bit of an overdose to have you as number two for another eight.”

“Did it ever occur to you that they might not have had enough of the Lees?”

“They love you both, Kate, but they’re not addicted. You have to be realistic.”

Kate smiled but said nothing.

“What about it, Kate? Will you come with us?”

“Marty, I will make you a pledge right now.”

“And what is that?”

“I will support the nominee of my party.”

Stanton set his glass down on the little table next to his chair. “Well, I’m disappointed that you won’t accept, Kate, but I’ll give you until noon tomorrow to think about it. Talk it over with Will.”

“Oh, I’ll do that,” Kate said. She waited for him to stand, then she did, too. She held out her hand. “Thank you for coming to see me, Marty,” she said.

“Good night, Kate. I hope to hear from you tomorrow.”

“You will, Marty.” She watched him go, closing the door behind him. She heard the outside door close and a car door slam, then she switched off her pocket recorder, picked up the phone, and pressed a button. “Come on in,” she said.

The door opened and Ann and Stone entered the room.

“Pull up another chair, Stone,” she said, “and pour us all another cognac, will you, please?”

Stone carried out his instructions and sat down.

Nobody said anything for a moment.

“Well?” Ann asked, unable to contain herself.

“He offered me State,” she said.

Ann laughed out loud. “The arrogant son of a bitch!”

“He says he wants ‘the senior senator from Pennsylvania’ for a running mate.”

“The worst possible combination,” Ann said.

“Funny, I thought exactly the same thing.”

“Did he say anything else of import?”

“I believe he did,” Kate said, “though it wasn’t his intent to say it.”

“What?”