“I believe,” Milbers announced, pressing his hands so firmly together that the fingers arched backward, “you put in something less than half a day on the matter. However, I’m willing to be generous. If you don’t divide your days, I’m willing to pay for a full day.”
He beamed across at Bertha.
Bertha said, “A hundred dollars.”
“But, my dear Mrs. Cool, that’s definitely outrageous!”
“What makes you think so?”
“The charges made by other firms engaged in a similar line of business — and which, incidentally, determine legally the reasonable basic rate. I hadn’t anticipated anything like that. I had thought that your charges would not exceed ten dollars, and I had prepared a little surprise for you.”
He took from his pocket a cheque payable to Bertha Cool to the amount of twenty-five dollars. On the back of it had been typed: This cheque is offered and accepted in full settlement of any and all claims which the payee may have against the payor of any sort, nature, or description, up to and including the date of the endorsement of this cheque, and the payee, by endorsement hereof, releases the payor from any and all claims of any sort, nature, or description from the beginning of the world to the date of said endorsement.
“Done by a lawyer,” Bertha grunted.
“Well,” Milbers said, “naturally I had to consult an attorney to protect my interests in connection with the estate.”
Bertha knew when she was licked. She sighed, took the cheque, and said, “All right, then, I’ll deposit it.”