“Look here, Pratt,” he demanded, “have you bought the Cropstone Wood, Water and Electric Light Company?”
“Certainly I have,” Jacob replied. “What about it?”
“When?”
“Oh, within a few days of your first coming to me.”
“Within a few days?” Mr. Montague almost shrieked.
Jacob leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and glanced with a momentary satisfaction at his well-polished brown shoes and white gaiters.
“My good friends,” he said, “you could scarcely expect me to put down twenty thousand pounds for land, without making arrangements for the water supply and lighting? I went into the matter with a local solicitor and found that, as the Company was practically moribund, the best way was to buy it outright. I am going to incorporate it with the Cropstone Wood Estates and make one concern.”
“You bought the Water Company behind our backs and never said a word about it?” Montague demanded thickly.
“Why on earth should I say anything to you?” Jacob retorted.
“We had an option ourselves!” Littleham thundered, striking the desk with his clenched fist.