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"I'll wait to hear your reactions," the Secretary said.

"I think on the whole he's a very promising candidate," said Dannenberg. "He has enthusiasm, background, and he knows Europe much better than most men his age."

"He doesn't know Asia," said Richards. "A man ought to be well rounded, as the world is rounded."

Dannenberg tried to estimate the Secretary's opinion, and decided to speak his mind. "On the other hand you can't expect him to have encyclopedic knowledge at his age. What's your opinion, Fred?"

Keller lit a cigarette, tilted his head upward, and slowly blew out the smoke, as if deliberating carefully on his reply. "He's a bit visionary," he said, "but I think he has the makings of a first-class man. I wouldn't mind having him work for me."

"When you said visionary you voiced my objection," said Matson. "We need hard-headed, practical men in the Department today. After all, we're engaged in a life-and-death struggle for our own way of life with a merciless enemy. Why take a chance on a do-gooder?"