“That’s a very commendable trait,” Milbers said, seating Bertha in the comfortable chair and perching himself on the bed where he made himself comfortable by putting pillows up against his back. “I don’t mind saying it’s an exceedingly commendable trait.”
“All right,” Bertha said with machine-gun-like rapidity and precision. “Let’s get down to brass tacks.”
“I see no reason why we shouldn’t.”
“Your cousin left an estate of — how much?”
“I wouldn’t know offhand, Mrs. Cool. Does it enter into the situation at all?”
“Yes.”
“I would say at least half a million, perhaps more.”
“You’re cut off with ten thousand?”
“Exactly, Mrs. Cool, and you’ll pardon me if I point out that this is not the important news which necessitated getting me up in the middle of the night. Both of us have known it for some little time.”
“I understand. I’m just laying the foundation.”