The Secret Service agent left the room, closing the double doors carefully behind him.
"Well, Jimmy," the President said.
"You look a hell of a lot better than the last time I saw you."
"Good whiskey and fast women, Uncle Frank," Whittaker said.
He went to Roosevelt and offered his hand. Roosevelt ignored it. He gripped his arms with both hands, and with strength that always surprised Whittaker forced his body down so that his face was level with Roosevelt's.
Roosevelt studied him intently for a moment, and then, nodding his head in approval, let him go.
"Chesty would be very proud of you," the President said.
"I am."
He let that sink in a moment, then changed the tone.
"I had a letter from Jimmy," he said.
"You know about Jimmy?
"James Roosevelt, the President's eldest son, was commissioned in the USMC. He was second in command of the Marine Raiders in the Pacific.
"Somebody talked him into joining the Marines," Whittaker said.
"I thought he was smarter than that."
Roosevelt laughed heartily.
"I think he was taken with the uniform," he said.
"Anyway, he asked about you."
"Give him my regards," Whittaker said.
Donovan handed the President a martini glass.
"I think you'll like that, Franklin," he said.
"Basically, it's frozen gin."
Roosevelt sipped the martini and nodded his approval.
Roosevelt asked about England, first generally, and then specifically about David Bruce, the OSS Chief of Station in London, and finally about Canidy.
"Your friend Canidy's all right?"
"Just fine," Whittaker said.
"I'm sorry that Bill and I can't tell you why, Jimmy," Roosevelt said, "but that Congo mission the two of you flew was of great importance."
"I thought it probably was of enormous importance," Whittaker said.
"Why did you think that?" Roosevelt asked. His famous smile was just perceptibly strained.
"The airplane Canidy and I flew was a brand-new C-46, fitted out like the Taj Mahal, and intended to fly Navy brass around the Pacific."
"Nothing is too good for our boys in the OSS," Roosevelt joked, exchanging a quick glance with Donovan.