Чужак в чужой стране

           But-seehere,Jubal,ifyoueverletontoanyonethatItoldyouthis,I’llcutyourlyingthroatwithoneofyourownmanuscripts."

           "Noted.Agreed.Proceed."

           "Well,AgnesDouglasdoestouchthestuff?,andIknowwhereshegetsit.HerastrologercancallMrs.Douglasatanytime–and,believeyoume,Mrs.DouglashastheearoftheSecretaryGeneralwhenevershechooses.Youcancallherastrologer?andtherestisuptoyou."

           "Idon’tseemtorecallanyastrologersonmyChristmascardlist,"Jubalanswereddubiously."What’shisname?"

           "Her.Andyoumighttrycrossingherpalmwithsilverinconvincingdenominations.HernameisMadameAlexandraVesant.WashingtonExchange.That’sV,E,S,A,N,T."

           "I’vegotit,"Jubalsaidhappily."And,Tom,you’vedonemeaworldofgood!"

           "Hopeso.Anythingforthenetworksoon?"

           "Holdit."JubalglancedatanoteMiriamhadplacedathiselbowsomemomentsago.Itread:"Larrysaysthetransceiverwon’ttrans–andhedoesn’tknowwhy."Jubalwenton,"Thatspotcoveragefailedearlierthroughatransceiverfailurehere–andIdon’thaveanyonewhocanrepairit."

           "I’llsendsomebody."

           "Thanks.Thankstwice."

           Jubalswitchedoff,placedthecallbynameandinstructedtheoperatortousehush&scrambleifthenumberwasequippedtotakeit.Itwas,nottohissurprise.VeryquicklyMadameVesant’sdignifiedfeaturesappearedinhisscreen.Hegrinnedatherandcalled,"Hey,Rube!"

           Shelookedstartled,thenlookedmoreclosely.