'Hell!' someone said predictably, 'that's no trick; you do it all the time.' The Governor General, among the small audience, joined in the mild laughter.

The Prime Minister touched Lexington's arm and for the second time took the External Affairs Minister aside. He explained the purport of what the party director had said and the need for a press announcement before morning. Typically, Lexington asked no unnecessary questions. Nodding his agreement, 'I'll call at the embassy and talk to Angry,' he said, 'then start some of my own people working.' He chuckled. 'Always gives me a sense of importance to keep others out of bed.'

'Now then you two! No affairs of state tonight.' It was Natalie Griffiths. She touched their shoulders lightly.

Arthur Lexington turned, beaming. 'Not even an itsy-bitsy world crisis?'

'Not even that. Besides, I've a crisis in the kitchen. That's much more important.' The Governor General's wife moved towards her husband. She said in a distressed whisper, not meant to be overheard but carrying clearly to those nearby, 'Of all things, Sheldon, we've no cognac.'

'That's impossible!'

'Shush! I don't know how it happened, but it has.'

'We'll have to get an emergency supply.'

'Charles has phoned the air force mess. They're rushing some over.'

'My God!' There was a plaintiveness to His Excellency's voice. 'Can't we ever entertain without something going wrong?'

Arthur Lexington murmured, 'I suppose I must drink my coffee neat.' He glanced at the fresh glass of grape juice which a few minutes earlier had been brought to James Howden. 'You don't have to worry. They've probably got gallons of that.'

The Governor General was muttering angrily, 'I'll have someone's scalp for this.'