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'We'll talk tonight,' he said placatingly 'When we get back'

The car stopped and the near-side door was opened A Mountie in scarlet dress uniforhted Jaearet It was the sort of thing Howden always did gracefully and without condescension At the same time he ell aware that the Mountie would talk about the incident afterwards, and it was surprising how far the ripples could extend froesture of that kind

As they entered Governish lieutenant of the Royal Canadian Navy – stepped sold-triht; probably, Howden thought, the result of too much time at a desk in Ottawa and too little at sea Officers had to wait their turn for sea duty now that the Navy was just a token force – in soh a costly one for taxpayers

They were led froh pillared entrance hall up a rich red-carpeted h a wide, tapestried corridor and into the Long Drawing Rooht's were usually held A big, elongated, shoe-box shaped rooed, with crossbeah with rather rouped chairs and settees, upholstered in soft shades of turquoise and daffodil yelloere unoccupied, the sixty or so guests standing, chatting in inforth portrait of the Queen stared unsly across the rooold brocade At the far end, festooned lights on a decorated Christmas tree flashed on and off The buzz of conversation lessened perceptibly as the Priown of pale own her shoulders bare

Still preceding, the naval lieutenant led the way directly to a point near a blazing log fire where the Governor General had been receiving The aide announced: 'The Prime Minister and Mrs Howden'

His Excellency, the Right Honourable Air Marshal Sheldon Griffiths, VC, DFC, RCAF (retired) Her Majesty's Governor General in the Do Priaret'

Margaret Howden curtsied expertly, her s Natalie Griffiths at her husband's side

'Good evening Your Excellency,' Ja extremely well'

The Governor General, silver-haired, ruddy, andfaultless evening dress with a long impressive row of medals and decorations He leaned forward confidentially 'I feel as ifto the fireplace 'Now you're here, let's move away from this inferno'

Together the four strolled through the room, the Governor General a courteous, friendly host

'I saw your new Karsh portrait,' he told Melissa Tayne, serene and gracious wife of Dr Borden Tayne, the Health and Welfare Minister 'It's very beautiful and alside, flushed with pleasure

Next to the, burbled, 'I've been trying to persuade my husband to sit for Karsh, Your Excellency, at least while Stuart has some hair left' Beside her, Stuart Cawston, Finance Minister, and known to friends and adversaries as 'Sood-naturedly

Soberly the Governor General inspected Cawston's rapidly balding scalp 'Better take your wife's advice, old chap Not much time left, I'd say' His tone robbed the words of any offence and there was a chorus of laughter in which the Finance Minister joined

Now, as the viceregal group ht the eye of Arthur Lexington, the External Affairs Minister, several groups aith his wife Susan, and nodded iton excused hiure in his late fifties whose easy-going, avuncular ways concealed one of the sharpest minds in international politics

'Good evening Pri his expression he lowered his voice 'Everything's teed'

'You've talked with Angry?' Howden asked crisply His Excellency Phillip B Angrove, 'Angry' to his friends, was the US Ambassador to Canada

Lexington nodded He said softly, 'Your ton, of course That gives us ten days'

'We'll need all of it'

'I know'

'Have you discussed procedure?'

'Not in detail There'll be a state banquet for you the first day – all the usual folderol – then the privateday I suppose that's e get down to business'

'How about an announcement?'

Lexington nodded warningly, and the Pri with a tray of drinks Arape juice, the latter a beverage which James Howden – a teetotaller – was believed to favour Noncommittally he accepted the drink

As therye and water, Aaron Gold, Postmaster General and only Jewishme,' he announced 'Couldn't you drop a word to His Ex, Prime Minister – ask hiht off'

'Never known you in a hurry to get off your feet, Aaron' Arthur Lexington grinned 'Not judging by your speeches'

Stuart Cawston, nearby, had overheard He called across:

'Why the tired feet, Aaron? Been delivering Christmas mail?'

'I should get huloomily, 'when all I need is tenderness'

'It wasyou had that already,' Howden said aue on side-stage to Macbeth Perhaps it was needed, though The issues which had suddenly loo the very existence of Canada, were forton and himself had any idea… Now the others moved away