"Good morning, Ronnie. I thought I'd come along and see you about the transfer I sent to you. You forgot to fill it up."
"Did I?" Ronnie was genuinely surprised. "I remember I had a letter from you—"
He took a heap of papers from a drawer and as he turned them over, Steppe's eyes lit up.
"That's it," he said, and offhandedly, "put your name against the seal."
Ronnie took up a pen—and paused.
"I am transferring a thousand shares in the Klein River Diamond Mining Corporation—at twelve. They are worth more than that surely? I thought I saw them quoted at a hundred and something?"
"They were twelve when I sent you the transfer," said Steppe.
"Why did you send it? I don't remember expressing a wish to sell."
Here Steppe made a fatal mistake. He had but to say, "You agreed to sell," and Ronnie would have signed. There were some incidents in his past life that he could not remember. But the temper of the big man got the better of him.
"You're not expected to ask!" he roared, bringing his big fist down on the table with a crash. "You're expected to do as you're told! Get that, Morelle! I sent you the transfer and a cheque—"