Чужак в чужой стране

           Secretary.Butthatwon’tbenecessary.We’llsleephere?andwhenitcomestimetomeetI’lldigupadogsled,orsomething.Noneedtosendyouryacht."

           Mr.Douglasfrowned."Come,Doctor!Asyouyourselfpointedout,theseconversationswillbequasi-diplomaticinnature.InprofferingproperprotocolIhave,ineffect,concededthis.ThereforeImustbeallowedtoprovideofficialhospitality."

           "Well,sir,Imightpointoutthatmyclienthashadentirelytoomuchofficialhospitalityalready–hehadtheDevil’sowntimegettingshutofit."

           Douglas’facebecamerigid."Sir,areyouimplying-"

           "I’mnotimplyinganything.I’msimplysayingthatSmithhasbeenthroughquitealotandisnotusedtohigh-levelceremony.He’llsleepsounderhere,wherehefeelsathome.AndsoshallI.Iamacrochetyoldman,sir,andIprefermyownbed.OrImightpointoutthatourtalksmaybreakdownandmyclientandIwouldbeforcedtolookelsewhere–inwhichcaseIwouldfinditembarrassingtobeaguestunderyourroof."

           TheSecretaryGenerallookedverygrim."Threatsagain.Ithoughtyoutrustedme,sir?AndIdistinctlyheardyousaythatyouwere‘readytonegotiate.’"

           "Idotrustyou,sir."(-aboutasfarasIcouldthrowafit!)"Andweareindeedreadytonegotiate.ButIuse‘negotiate’initsoriginalsense,notinthisnew-fangledmeaningof‘appeasement.’However,weintendtobereasonable.Butwecan’tstarttalksatonceinanycase;we’reshyonefactorandwemustwait.Howlong,Idon’tknow."