"Am I to be left alone with the great one?" she asked, as they went up
the steps from the sidewalk.
"What do you wish me to do?" he inquired.
"Wait until I signal!"
"And if his Excellency signals first?"
"It will be for me to influence that signal," she replied.
They took the private elevator to the next floor. The old negro
messenger was waiting at the door of the reception room and he bowed to
the floor--a portion of the bow was for Harleston, but by far the
larger portion was for Madeline Spencer.
"De Sec'eta'y, seh, am waiting for you all at onct, Mars Ha'lison," he
said; and ushering them across the big room to the Secretary's private
office he swung back the heavy door and bowed them into the Presence.
As she passed the threshold, Mrs. Spencer caught her breath sharply, and
straightened her shoulders just a trifle. She saw where she stood, and
what was coming. Very well--she would defeat them yet.
XXIV
THE CANDLE FLAME
The Secretary was standing by the window; with him were Mrs. Clephane
and Carpenter.
"How do you do, Mrs. Spencer!" he said, without waiting for the formal
presentation.
She dropped him--Continental fashion--a bit of curtsy and offered him
her slender fingers; which, as well as the rest of her hand, he took and
held.
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