Pershing sat upright, muscles tense.
Shire, being the gracious host, took the coffee from the orderly and handed it to Pershing.
Pershing quickly stood up, accepted it with both hands, and slightly bowed: "Thank you very much, Vice Admiral."
Hubbard sat nearby, hardly daring to breathe, and he quickly snatched the coffee from the orderly's tray even before Shire could hand it over.
He similarly bowed to Shire in gratitude: "Thank you very much, Vice Admiral!"
Shire dropped a sugar cube into his coffee and gently stirred it, looking at Pershing sitting opposite: "Have you encountered any difficulties, General?"
Shire tried not to refer to Pershing's military rank.
Because Pershing's rank was only "Brigadier General," yet he served as the Commander of the American Expeditionary Force, which was not quite commensurate.
Pershing was holding the coffee cup, about to take a sip, but upon hearing Shire's words, he paused and placed the coffee back on the table.
