Gogarty laughed sharply and brought me up standing. There was a note to the way he laughed that I didn't like; for a moment there, I thought he was thinking of my own little--well, indiscretion. But he said only, "It's expensive, too." I suppose he meant nothing by it. But I was sensitive on the subject. Before I could ask him any more questions, the massive face smoothed out in a smile. He rose ponderously, greeting someone. "Here they are, Wills," he said jovially. "The girls!" * * * * * The headwaiter was conducting two young ladies toward us. I remembered my manners and stood up, but I confess I was surprised. I had heard that discipline in the field wasn't the same as at the Home Office, but after all--Gogarty was a Regional Director! It was a little informal of him to arrange our first meeting at dinner, in the first place. But to make a social occasion of it was--in the straitlaced terms of the Home Office where I had been trained--almost unthinkable. And it was apparent that the girls were mere decoration. I had a hundred eager questions to ask Gogarty--about this mad Zorchi, about my duties, about Company policy here in the principality of Naples--but it would be far out of line to bring up Company matters with these females present. I was not pleased, but I managed to be civil. The girls were decorative enough, I had to admit. Gogarty said expansively, all trace of ill humor gone, "This is Signorina dell'Angela and Miss Susan Manchester. Rena and Susan, this is Tom Wills." I said stiffly, "Delighted." Susan was the blonde one, a small plump girl with the bubbly smile of a professional model. She greeted Gogarty affectionately. The other was dark and lovely, but with a constant shadow, almost glowering, in her eyes. So we had a few drinks. Then we had a few more. Then the captain appeared with a broad menu, and I found myself in an embarrassing position. For Gogarty waved the menu aside with a gesture of mock disgust. "Save it for the peasants," he ordered. "We don't want that Blue Plate slop. We'll start with those little baby shrimps like I had last night, and then an antipasto and after that--" I broke in apologetically, "Mr. Gogarty, I have only a Class-B policy." Gogarty blinked at me. "What?" I cleared my throat. "I have only Class-B coverage on my Blue Plate policy," I repeated. "I, uh, I never went in much for such--" He looked at me incredulously. "Boy," he said, "this is on the Company. Now relax and let me order. Blue Plate coverage is for the peasants; I eat like a human being."