"Sure," she said. "You sense you might have a hell of a story, in other words?" Donovan said. "Is that what you're worried about?" she asked. "A good deal of damage would be done if there is whispering about what might be going on around here," Donovan said.
"If studied guesses were to appear in print... We just can't afford that, Ann."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that, so far as I'm concerned," she said.
"I have no intention of writing a word about it."
"Well, I'm certainly relieved to hear that," Donovan said. "But I've got to pursue that a little further. I hope you won't take offense."
"Try me," she said. "How can I be sure that your patriotism won't wear thin after you've had a chance to think it over?"
"This has nothing to do with my patriotism," she said. "Then what?" he asked, surprised. "Dick Canidy is obviously in deep trouble over us in the first place, Ann said.
"I wouldn't do anything to add to his troubles, and I think
this is the time to tell you that he had nothing at all to do with our coming. I was the one who figured out where he was and talked the others into driving up. "Your loyalty to your friend is commendable," C. Holds worth Martin, Jr." said.
"This has nothing to do with loyalty to a friend," Ann said. "I'm in love with Dick Canidy, I can't tell you how badly I feel about getting him in trouble."
"I didn't know," Donovan said, "that you were that close to Canidy."
"Neither does he, Colonel," Ann said.
"But I hope, sooner or later, to change that," "Mon Dieu!" C. Holds worth Martin, Jr." said. "It wasn't easy for me to tell you that," Ann said, "But under the circumstances, I thought it was necessary."
"I'm glad you told us, Ann," Donovan said.
"And it won't go any further."
"Thank you," she said.
"What happens now" "That's what Mr. Martin and I are going to decide just about as soon as you leave," Donovan said. "If you sock it to Dick anyway," Ann said," I'll help him in any way I can. I've heard whispers about people being locked up for psychiatric examination. If you do something like that to Canidy, you can count on it getting in the papers. Maybe my father's papers wouldn't print it, but somebody will.
She walked out of the room. Donovan had a thought from left field: What the hell is wrong with Canidy? That young woman is really bright.
She's put together like the proverbial brick outhouse, and she's really special to boot. "Was that an example of the female hell hath no fury like?" C. Holds worth Martin, Jr." asked. "Well, she asked the question, didn't she?" Donovan replied. "What happens now?"
"I think we should talk to Canidy," Martin said, "before we decide."
"Yeah," Donovan said. He walked over and opened the door, then raised his voice and called, "Will somebody send Canidy in here, please?"
Canidy came in wearing khaki trousers and a T-shirt. "We seem to have a problem on our hands, don't we, Dick?" Donovan began. "Not as much as Baker seems to think we have," Canidy said. "But a problem."
"You don't seem overly concerned about it," Donovan said sharply.
"What damage has been done has been done," Canidy said.
"And I don't think you called me in here to ask for my remedy for it.
"Canidy," Donovan said, "at this moment, you're on a greased skid at the bottom of which is a long stay in St. Elizabeth's."
"I thought that was probably what was going to happen," Canidy said.
"I thank you, Colonel, for telling me yourself. Denying Baker that satisfaction, I mean." He started to get up.
"That's it, isn't it?" he asked. "Sit down, Canidy," Donovan said.
Canidy shrugged and lowered himself back into the chair. "Have you wondered why Baker is so upset?"