He threw away his cigar and drew out a fresh one which he wobbled about in his mouth unlighted.

He kept swinging round in his chair to gaze at the map above Bassett's desk.

The tinted outlines of the map--green, pink, and orange--could not have had for him any novelty; similar maps hung in many offices and Thatcher was moreover a native of the state and long familiar with its configuration.

Perhaps, Dan reflected, its juxtaposition to Bassett's desk was what irritated his visitor, though it had never occurred to him that this had any significance.

He recalled now, however, that when he had arranged the rooms the map had been hung in the outer office, but that Bassett himself had removed it to his private room--the only change he had made in Dan's arrangements.