The heavily guarded room on the ground floor was large and magnificent, decorated with delicate Arabic woodwork, the walls painted a pastel blue, but the air was grey with cigarette smoke and thick with uniforms. Officially the hotel's main dining room, now it thronged with military chiefs of staff and senior Allied officers, deep in serious conversation. Churchill was already there, wearing a white linen suit, in excellent mood as he mingled with the crowd, the usual cigar clenched between his fingers, and when they wheeled in Roosevelt there was a spontaneous round of applause from everyone present as the two great men warmly greeted each other. Finally, after they had chatted briefly with most of the senior officers, an aide in charge of the proceedings announced, 'And now, gentlemen, as I'm sure you can appreciate, the Prime Minister and President need some time in private. Refreshments will be served in the room next door if you'll kindly follow me, please.' Moments later the room had been emptied, the doors had been closed, and the two men were completely alone, Roosevelt's Secret Service men and Churchill's Scotland Yard bodyguards, who accompanied him at all times, waiting politely outside.
