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morning, perhaps you will pass along my address to Mr. Cromwell so he can send the invitation to my own butler?” I inclined my head to Cromwell. “At my earliest convenience, I’ll make sure my butler takes care of the RSVP.”
    Cromwell said, “No need for that kind of formality. I’ll simply expect you there early.”
    “I insist,” I said. “My butler is a man of propriety, and when I exhibit any kind of churlish behavior, he becomes an absolute beast and then it takes hours to soothe him.”
    I heard Goethals make a choking sound, which he quickly turned into a cough.
    Cromwell flared. “You are mocking me. Colonel Goethals, I did not come to this meeting to be insulted.”
    Goethals steadied himself. “I promised to get you someone qualified to help you with your problem. I’d say sarcasm like that shows the intelligence you need to assure yourself he’s that man.”
    “He’s boorish.”
    “Not everyone can be as elegant as the French, Mr. Cromwell,” Goethals said.
    “Ah, the French”—I just couldn’t help myself—“their elegance managed to dig, what, a couple hundred yards of canal?”
    “Mosquitoes brought them down,” Cromwell said. “Nothing else. Only a dim-witted boor would think otherwise.”
    “If that means I am no longer invited to your party, I won’t spend much time wallowing in regrets.”
    Cromwell drew more on his cigar, evaluating me. Finally he spoke again. “Oh, the party is a necessity. Much as I don’t like it, the colonel is correct about you. I will set aside my distaste and accept your employment for this situation.”
    I reached for my hat. It didn’t need dusting, but I wiped away a few imaginary smudges and placed it on my head. I was about to stand and depart, when Goethals spoke.
    “Please, Mr. Holt. I think you’ll need to hear out Mr. Cromwell. I’m asking it as a favor.”
    I put my hat down.
    Cromwell glared at me. I smiled in return.
    “Just to be clear,” Cromwell said to Goethals, “we have no one else but this cowboy?”
    “Not within the parameters you demanded. I’d suggest you tell him what you need and why.”
    Cromwell sighed and gave me his attention again. “You are well aware of the media scrutiny given to this canal project and the allegations of last October made by the
World.
”
    “The allegations that you rigged the Panamanian revolt and helped arrange American military backing against Colombia?” I asked. “And allegations that you and your friends have benefited from some twenty-five million dollars in funds that can’t be traced?”
    Cromwell glared at Goethals.
    Goethals shrugged. “You need him more than I do. I won’t force you to use him.”
    Cromwell transferred his glare to me. “Allegations.”
    “Of course. Which is why Roosevelt has sued Pulitzer for libel.”
    Cromwell said, “What is not yet public record are the steps that Pulitzer himself is taking to prove the allegations true. He’s sent investigative reporters to Washington, Paris, Bogotá in Colombia, and now one of them is here in Panama City.”
    “Allegations can be so pesky.” Petty, I know, but it was fun to watch Cromwell struggle to contain his anger. That was also petty.
    “Given those allegations, I cannot afford any hint of further scandal in the American media,” Cromwell told me. “From my perspective, an official investigation into the situation at hand would involve an official investigator. You are here because I asked Colonel Goethals for someone with a simple list of qualifications. Whoever arrived should not be part of political circles, should be trusted, and should not know the reason ahead of time, as this would ensure as long as possible the secrecy of his presence here.” Cromwell paused and puffed his cigar.
    From the long silence, it was clear Cromwell expected me to say something. I gave no response.
    Cromwell said, with irritation, “I would expect at this point, you would ask what needs to be investigated.”
    I