Bertha threw back her head and laughed.
“I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” Fosdick said, leaning forward. “I’ll make it five.”
Bertha, afraid to let him see her eyes, said, “You don’t realize how ridiculous you are.”
“But five thousand! Surely, Mrs. Cool, that’s an enormous settlement.”
“You think so?”
“What are you expecting to get?”
Bertha looked at him then. “All the traffic will bear,” she said.
“You’ve got the offer now,” Fosdick announced, getting to his feet. “That’s the extreme limit. I was going to come up to three today and not go up to five until after suit had been filed. Those were my instructions. I’ve taken it on myself to give you the break and let you have my final offer now.”
“Nice of you,” Bertha said.
“You have my card,” Fosdick announced with dignity. ‘You can telephone me when you’re ready to accept.”