The Governor was at his broad table in the center of the room; the big chandelier above the table was ablaze, and the shadows of the grooves on North's face were accentuated. He was staring at the opening door with an expectancy that had been fully apprised as to the caller's identity, and he was not cordial. "You make a devilish noise lugging that meat-cleaver around, Amos. What's the use of all the full-dress nonsense?" "Official example _and_"--the general bore down hard on the conjunction--"the absolute necessity of a civilian officer getting into uniform when he exercises authority. I know human nature!" "All right! Maybe you do. But don't trip yourself up with that sword and fall down and break your neck," advised the Governor, satirically solicitous as one of the family. "Anything stirring down-stairs?" "The situation is being handled perfectly. Everybody alert. It's wonderful training for the guards." "I haven't liked the sound of reports from the city. Has any news come to you lately?" "Nothing of special importance. Only a little disturbance, or the threat of one, in the vicinity of Senator Corson's residence. His secretary called up. I sent a few boys down there." "A disturbance?" barked North. "I didn't quite gather the details. The man ran his words together." General Totten helped himself to one of his brother-in-law's cigars. "This sounds serious. Why the infernal blazes don't you wake up?" "An officer commanding troops mustn't be thrown off his poise by every flurry. What would happen if I didn't keep my head?" "When was this?" "Oh, maybe half an hour ago," replied the adjutant-general, with martial indifference to any mere rumblings of popular discontent. "That's probably the reason why Corson hasn't got along yet. I'm expecting him. I sent for him." North twitched his nose; his eye-glasses dropped off and dangled at the end of their cord. "I have sent explicit orders to Mayor Morrison to tend to that mob that he has been coddling. He's letting 'em get away from him, if what you say is so." "Oh, the mayor and I are in perfect accord and are handling the situation. I have just been talking with him on the telephone." Totten settled his cigar into the corner of his mouth. "Where is he?" "At his residence! Showing that he isn't any more worried than I am." "Well, if he has got the thing in hand again, I hope he'll stay at his residence. If reports are anything to go by, he didn't help matters by going down-town and making speeches to that rabble." "Politeness wins in the long run, Lawrence, whether you're talking to the mob or the masters. I make it my principle in life. Tact and diplomacy. Harmony and--"