“Yes, Dr. Sutton,” said the senator. “It’s nice of you to call.”
“I’m calling in regard to the invitation that we sent you last week,” said Sutton. “In view of your statement last night, which we feel very keenly is an unjust criticism, we are with-drawing it.”
“Invitation,” said the senator. “Why, I didn’t—”
“What I can’t understand,” said Sutton, “is why, with the invitation in your pocket, you should have acted as you did.”
“But,” said the senator, “but, doctor—”
“Good-by, senator,” said Sutton.
Slowly the senator hung up. With a fumbling hand, he reached out and picked up the stack of letters.
It was the third one down. The return address was Extrasolar Research and it had been registered and sent special delivery and it was marked both PERSONAL and IMPORTANT.
The letter slipped out of the senator’s trembling fingers and fluttered to the floor. He did not pick it up.
It was too late now, he knew, to do anything about it.