Page:War's dark frame (IA warsdarkframe00camp).pdf/269

Rh "The bewildered clerk leaned his elbows on the table. He wanted to smoke a cigarette, but he thought it might offend the old men. He wanted to say, 'What does bring us together?' Instead he murmured:

"’Gentlemen, you interest me.'

"They smiled at that. They bent closer to him genially. He realised he had made a hit. He determined to use that phrase as often as possible. He had had no idea any one phrase could be so successful. Then his ears tingled. He felt confusion sweep him. He was like a man lost in a deep woods. Some one had said pleasantly:

"’Then perhaps, you will give us your government's terms.'

For a long time he kept his head bent. He didn't answer.

"’Of course we understand,' he heard a voice drone, 'that this conference is quite informal, and that the terms you mention must, to an extent, be considered tentative. Still it is a beginning, an encouraging one. We must begin somewhere. The tentative terms, please.'

"The drumming in his ears increased. He scarcely heard his own voice murmur: Gentlemen, you interest me.' "

This time there was no good-natured response.