The secretary was considerably annoyed.
"My dear Hallowell," he protested, "why the devil didn't you tell me you wanted a decoration?
Of course the State department expressly forbids us to ask for one for ourselves, or for any one else.

But what's the Constitution between friends?
I'll get it for you at once--but, on two conditions: that you don't tell anybody I got it, and that you tell me why you want it, and what you ever did to deserve it." Instead, Peter explained fully and so sympathetically that the diplomat demanded that he, too, should be enrolled as one of the Gilman Defense Committee.
"Doctor Gilman's history," he said, "must be presented to the Sultan.
You must have the five volumes rebound in red and green, the colors of Mohammed, and with as much gold tooling as they can carry.

I hope," he added, "they are not soiled." "Not by me," Peter assured him.
"I will take them myself," continued Stimson, "to Muley Pasha, the minister of foreign affairs, and ask him to present them to his Imperial Majesty.

He will promise to do so, but he won't; but he knows I know he won't so that is all right.

And in return he will present us with the Order of the Crescent of the third class." "Going up!" exclaimed Peter.