An instant later he turned abruptly, ending the reception with a deep bow, and retired into the room from which he had earlier emerged.
Mr.Calhoun turned now to me with a request to follow him, and we passed through the door where the president had vanished.

Directed by attendants, we were presently ushered into yet another room, which at that time served the president as his cabinet room, a place for meeting persons of distinction who called upon business.
As we entered I saw that it was already occupied.

Mr.Tyler was grasping the hand of a portly personage, whom I knew to be none other than Mr.
Pakenham.

So much might have been expected.

What was not to have been expected was the presence of another--none less than the Baroness von Ritz! For this latter there was no precedent, no conceivable explanation save some exigent emergency.
So we were apparently to understand that my lady was here as open friend of England! Of course, I needed no word from Mr.Calhoun to remind me that we must seem ignorant of this lady, of her character, and of her reputed relations with the British Foreign Office.
"I pray you be seated, Mr.Pakenham," said Mr.Tyler, and he gestured also to us others to take chairs near his table.