‘You didn’t balk him?’
‘I commended his discretion.’
Rodman could not check a laugh.
‘I am serious,’ said Mr. Hilary. ‘It may take a little time, but—’
‘Just so. Did he question you at all about what we were doing?’
‘A good deal. He said he should go and look over the Stores in the Strand.’
‘By all means. He’s a clever man if he distinguishes between Irish butter and English butterine—I’m sure I couldn’t. And things really are looking up at the Stores?’
‘Oh, distinctly.’
‘By-the-by, I had rather a nasty letter from Lord Mountorry yesterday. He’s beginning to ask questions: wants to know when we’re going to conclude our contract with that tenant of his—I’ve forgotten the fellow’s name.’
‘Well, that must be looked into. There’s perhaps no reason why the contract should not be concluded. Little by little we may come to justify our name; who knows? In the meantime, we at all events do a bona fide business.’