Thankfully, he was. At nine twenty-five exactly, the door opened and Mr. Fredericksohn entered. He glanced once round the office, saw Mrs. Wladek and went on. A second later he stopped. He didn't have a chance to say anything. Mrs. Wladek was at his side. "I must see you at once," she said. "I must see you alone, at once." He stared at her. "Miss Scott here, I'm sure, can--" "It is about Miss Scott that I want to talk to you," Mrs. Wladek hissed. Mr. Fredericksohn glanced at Gloria. She busied herself with papers. At last he said: "Come with me," and led Mrs. Wladek down the aisle into his private office. The door closed. Ten minutes passed and the door opened. Mr. Fredericksohn's head projected. "Miss Scott," he said. "May I see you for a minute?" The curiosity in the office was almost a solid pressure, but Gloria paid it no attention. She said: "Certainly," put away the folder she had been consulting, and went in. There, at the side of Mr. Fredericksohn's desk, Mrs. Wladek was sitting, looking determined, grim and baffled all at once. Gloria stood in front of the desk and Mr. Fredericksohn seated himself behind it, the large open window at his back. "Yes, Mr. Fredericksohn?" Gloria said. "I have told him all," Mrs. Wladek said. "All. Everything. Total." "Er ... yes," Mr. Fredericksohn said. He faced Gloria resolutely. "Mrs. Wladek has said something about a ... about a spell. Do you know what she might be talking about? Something you said, some impression you gave her--" "A spell?" Gloria shook her head. "I can't think how she got that idea," she said calmly. "You do not fool him," Mrs. Wladek said. "He knows. I have told him all." "Certainly," Mr. Fredericksohn murmured. "But perhaps some little thing--" "My report will be ready in an hour," Gloria said. "But I'm sure there was nothing." Mr. Fredericksohn coughed convulsively. "I suppose not," he said. "I realize this is rather unpleasant for you--" "I quite understand," Gloria said. Mrs. Wladek came out of her chair in a single movement and clutched Gloria by the left arm. "What is happening?" she demanded. Mr. Fredericksohn avoided her eye. "Please sit down," he said. And then, to Gloria: "Miss Scott, if you'll make the call ... you know what I mean?" "Of course," she said. "The--" He whispered it: "The hospital?" "What did you say?" Mrs. Wladek demanded. "What did you tell her?" Gloria disengaged herself and went to the door. As she shut it behind her she could hear Mrs. Wladek's voice, rising to a crescendo of threats and abuse, and Mr. Fredericksohn's calm, scholarly attempts to stem the tide. She almost smiled. Then she went to her own desk and picked up the telephone. Actually, she told herself, matters had worked out for the best. Rudi had a job, and would grow into a fully functioning member of society. Mrs. Wladek would not be on the relief rolls any longer.