Page 161 (2/2)

Oates demanded

"My God, it's Pitt!" Moon ed to blurt

His ar from a sneak punch, Pitt nodded toward the battered old travel bag held by the Mountie "The treaty copy is in there"

While Mercier vouched for Pitt and swept the security people from the room, Oates studied the contents of the treaty

Finally he looked up hesitantly "Is it real? I ery?"

Pitt collapsed in a chair, tenderly probing the growing ly finished "Rest easy, Mr Secretary, you're holding the genuine article"

Mercier turned froh a copy of the President's speech

"He's about twostatement"

"We better get this to him, fast," said Moon

Mercier looked down at the exhausted man in the chair "I think Mr Pitt should have that honor He represents the men who died for it"

Pitt abruptly sat up "Me? I can't go in front of a hundredthe Canadian Parlia like a masquerade party drunk"

"You won't have to," said Mercier, s "I'll interrupt the President myself and ask him to step to the anteroom You take it from there"

In the deep red setting of the Senate chaovernment sat stunned at the President of the United States' invitation to begin negotiations forthe two nations It was the first any of them had heard of it Only Sarveux sat unperturbed, his face calm and unreadable

/>

A wave of h the chamber as the President's national security adviser stepped to the lectern and whispered in his ear An interruption of a major address was a break in custom and was not to be taken without a minor fuss