{"product_id":"2940148196204","title":"The Adventurer (Illustrated)","description":"President Folsom XXIV said petulantly to his Secretary of the Treasury: \"Blow me to hell, Bannister, if I understood a single word of that. Why can't I buy the Nicolaides Collection? And don't start with the rediscount and the Series W business again. Just tell me why.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Secretary of the Treasury said with an air of apprehension and a thread-like feeling across his throat: \"It boils down to—no money, Mr. President.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe President was too engrossed in thoughts of the marvelous collection to fly into a rage. \"It's such a bargain,\" he said mournfully. \"An archaic Henry Moore figure—really too big to finger, but I'm no culture-snob, thank God—and fifteen early Morrisons and I can't begin to tell you what else.\" He looked hopefully at the Secretary of Public Opinion: \"Mightn't I seize it for the public good or something?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Secretary of Public Opinion shook his head. His pose was gruffly professional. \"Not a chance, Mr. President. We'd never get away with it. The art-lovers would scream to high Heaven.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I suppose so.... Why isn't there any money?\" He had swiveled dangerously on the Secretary of the Treasury again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Sir, purchases of the new Series W bond issue have lagged badly because potential buyers have been attracted to—\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Stop it, stop it, stop it! You know I can't make head or tail of that stuff. Where's the money going?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Director of the Budget said cautiously: \"Mr. President, during the biennium just ending, the Department of Defense accounted for 78 per cent of expenditures—\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Secretary of Defense growled: \"Now wait a minute, Felder! We were voted—\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe President interrupted, raging weakly: \"Oh, you rascals! My father would have known what to do with you! But don't think I can't handle it. Don't think you can hoodwink me.\" He punched a button ferociously; his silly face was contorted with rage and there was a certain tension on all the faces around the Cabinet table.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePanels slid down abruptly in the walls, revealing grim-faced Secret Servicemen. Each Cabinet officer was covered by at least two automatic rifles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Take that—that traitor away!\" the President yelled. His finger pointed at the Secretary of Defense, who slumped over the table, sobbing. Two Secret Servicemen half-carried him from the room.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePresident Folsom XXIV leaned back, thrusting out his lower lip. He told the Secretary of the Treasury: \"Get me the money for the Nicolaides Collection. Do you understand? I don't care how you do it. Get it.\" He glared at the Secretary of Public Opinion. \"Have you any comments?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No, Mr. President.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"All right, then.\" The President unbent and said plaintively: \"I don't see why you can't all be more reasonable. I'm a very reasonable man. I don't see why I can't have a few pleasures along with my responsibilities. Really I don't. And I'm sensitive. I don't like these scenes. Very well. That's all. The Cabinet meeting is adjourned.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey rose and left silently in the order of their seniority. The President noticed that the panels were still down and pushed the button that raised them again and hid the granite-faced Secret Servicemen. He took out of his pocket a late Morrison fingering-piece and turned it over in his hand, a smile of relaxation and bliss spreading over his face. Such amusing textural contrast! Such unexpected variations on the classic sequences!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Cabinet, less the Secretary of Defense, was holding a rump meeting in an untapped corner of the White House gymnasium.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"God,\" the Secretary of State said, white-faced. \"Poor old Willy!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe professionally gruff Secretary of Public Opinion said: \"We should murder the bastard. I don't care what happens—\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Director of the Budget said dryly: \"We all know what would happen. President Folsom XXV would take office. No; we've got to keep plugging as before. Nothing short of the invincible can topple the Republic....\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What about a war?\" the Secretary of Commerce demanded fiercely. \"We've no proof that our program will work. What about a war?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eState said wearily: \"Not while there's a balance of power, my dear man. The Io-Callisto Question proved that. The Republic and the Soviet fell all over themselves trying to patch things up as soon as it seemed that there would be real shooting. Folsom XXIV and his excellency Premier Yersinsky know at least that much.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Secretary of the Treasury said: \"What would you all think of Steiner for Defense?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Director of the Budget was astonished. \"Would he take it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTreasury cleared his throat. \"As a matter of fact, I've asked him to stop by right about now.\" He hurled a medicine ball into the budgetary gut.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Oof!\" said the Director. \"You bastard. Steiner would be perfect. He runs Standards like a watch.\"","brand":"Lost Leaf Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47075305357552,"sku":"2940148196204","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940148196204_p0.jpg?v=1763699156","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940148196204","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}