“There—do you get the idea?”

“I am obliged to admit that I do. And it will be as you have said. I will transact the business tomorrow. I intimately know the Director-General’s nearest friend. He will give me a note of introduction, with a word to say my matter is of real importance to the government. I will take it along, without an appointment, and send it in, with my card, and I shan’t have to wait so much as half a minute.”

That turned out true to the letter, and the government adopted the boots.