Harcourt rose and bowed. "Certainly, ma'am," he told her. "If you object to her presence you are entitled to order her out. If she refuses to go, you can throw her out or call the house detective." Jimmie laughed. "Good! Virginia Rutherford, you get out of my bedroom or I'll throw you out." Virginia relaxed back against the pillow. "Act your age, dearest," she said. "You don't want any public scandal about your husband, do you?" "Oh!" Germaine paused. "Of course not!" There was another knock on the door. "Come in!" we chorused. This time it was Dorothy Jacklin. "Oh!" she exclaimed, none too brightly. "So we're all here." "This is Mr. Harcourt of the F.B.I., Mrs. Jacklin," I said. "He's an old friend of mine." Dorothy turned to me. "There's one thing I'd like cleared up, Mr. Tompkins," she said. "Yes?" I asked. "I certified to O.S.S. that you were with Z-2. I've checked over our confidential files and I can't find any record of Z-2. Things like that go on my efficiency rating and I might get into trouble. After all, you were admitted to the Administration Building without the usual references and identification. General Donovan is very strict about such things." "There is no such thing as Z-2, Mrs. Jacklin," I assured her. "Aha!" Virginia chortled, "here it comes." "Winnie!" Germaine was hurt. "President Truman just today signed a special order abolishing Z-2 and transferring its duties to the War Department. If you need the references for the O.S.S. record that dear little colonel of yours can get it from General Wakely at G-2. That's right, isn't it, Harcourt?" "That's right, Mr. Tompkins. All government intelligence agencies have been notified. When you get back to your office, Mrs. Jacklin, you'll find that O.S.S. has a copy of the order." Dorothy turned to me. "Isn't that lousy!" she exclaimed. "After all the splendid work Z-2 did, to have the Army take it over and grab the credit!" I shrugged my shoulders. "It's what we expect in this government game," I said. "A passion for anonymity is not only expected of us, it's rammed down our throats. Only Admirals and Generals are good at intelligence. Period. However, I'm just as glad it's over. The President told me to take a rest and I think it's a good idea." "Well!" said Germaine. "Of all ingratitude!" "I think the best idea is for us all to go downstairs and have some champagne cocktails," I suggested. "Things often seem better that way." Harcourt looked grave. "I'm not allowed to drink on duty, Mr. Tompkins," he observed, "but I'm not on duty now. Come on, Mrs. Jacklin," he continued, "let's go on and show them." Dorothy looked startled. "Show them what," she asked. "Show them that we intelligence services can take it ma'am," the Special Agent observed. "You're O.S.S. and I'm F.B.I. and these others have just been consolidated out of the game." Dorothy flashed him a smile. "Well--" she began doubtfully.