ORMAN led Smith to Donovan’s room. The man must have known all about the Megalian admiral’s threat. He probably understood, better than any one else on the island, the meaning and purpose of the ultimatum presented to Donovan. But he showed no signs of embarrassment or excitement. When Gorman summoned him—he was brushing a pair of Konrad Karl’s trousers at the moment—he apologized for having put Gorman to the trouble of looking for him. When he entered the room where Donovan waited he stood quietly near the door in his usual attitude of respectful attention.
Donovan greeted him as if he had been a friend and not a servant.
“Take a chair, Smith, and sit down. I want to talk to you.”
Smith refused to accept this new position.
“Beg pardon, sir,” he said, “but if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather stand. Seems more natural, sir.”
Gorman, who had followed Smith into the room, hovered uncertainly near the door. He very much wanted to hear what Donovan had to say; but he was not quite sure whether he was meant to be present.
“Any objection to my staying?” he asked. “I’m interested in international peace movements and Hague Conferences. I’d like to hear how you mean to work this affair.”
“Sit down,” said Donovan, “but don’t get interrupting. Now that I’ve taken hold I mean to handle this damned business my own way.”
Gorman sat down and lit his pipe. Donovan turned to Smith.
“You’re a valuable man, Smith,” he said, “and I’d like to retain your services.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Smith. “I’ve done my best to give satisfaction.”
“But if you’re to stay on with me,” said Donovan, “we’ve got to have some straight talk. I’d like it to be clearly understood that your engagement with me is to be a whole-time job for the future.”
“More satisfactory, sir, certainly.”
“At present,” said Donovan, “you’re also engaged by Mr. Steinwitz.”
“Not by Mr. Steinwitz, sir, if you’ll excuse my correcting you. By the Emperor.”
Gorman groaned deeply. Smith turned to him, solicitous, anxious to be of use.
“Beg pardon, sir, can I do anything for you, sir? Anything wrong, sir?”
“No,” said Gorman, “no. The mention of the Emperor upsets me a little. That’s all. Don’t do it again, if you can help it, Smith. I’m sorry, Donovan. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Smith turned to Donovan again.
“Perhaps I should say, sir, the Imperial Secret Service.”
“Salary?” said Donovan.
He showed no surprise, anger or disgust. Smith was equally cool. He answered the question snapped at him as if it had been the most natural in the world.
“Well, sir, that depends. The salary varies according to circumstances. And there are allowances, travelling, sir, and subsistence, sometimes.”
“Average?” said Donovan, “average net profit?”
Smith thought for a minute before answering. He was apparently anxious to be accurate and honest.
“I think, sir, I may say £200 a year, taking one thing with another.”
“Well,” said Donovan, “I’ll double that, in addition to what I’m paying you at present; on condition that you’re in my service only. As I said before, Smith, you’re a valuable man.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Smith. “Very generous of you. I appreciate the offer, but”
He paused. He had some objection to make, but he hesitated to put it into words.
“I treble the Emperor’s two hundred pounds,” said Donovan.
“I beg pardon, sir. I wasn’t meaning to stand out for a larger salary. That’s not my point, sir. What I was going to say, sir, was”
Again he hesitated.
“Patriotic scruples?” said Donovan. “Loyal to the Emperor? Feel kind of mean deserting the service of your country?”
“Oh no, sir, not at all. Scruples aren’t in my line, sir, and I am Swiss by birth. No particular feeling of loyalty to anybody. The fact is, sir, a man must keep his self-respect. I daresay you’ll understand. I had no objection to taking on a valet’s job, sir, in the way of business, as an agent of the Intelligence Department. But it’s rather a different thing, sir—if you catch my point—to enter domestic service as a profession. A man doesn’t like to lose caste, sir.”
“That’s a real difficulty,” said Donovan. “As an American citizen I understand your feeling and respect it. See any way out?”
“It occurs to me, sir—it’s for you to decide, of course. But it occurs to me that if I might enter the Intelligence Department of Salissa, there’d be no interference with my work in the palace. Anything I could do to make you comfortable. But as agent of the Queen’s Secret Service I should be I hope you catch my point, sir. You see I held a commission at one time in the Megalian Army.”