Mottisfont drew a breath. "My firm - it's a private company - deals with the East Indies trade."
"Just what is the composition of the company, sir?"
"Private limited liability. The shares were held by the three of us: Nathaniel Herriard, Stephen Herriard, and myself."
"In what proportion, sir?"
"Nathaniel Herriard held seventy per cent of the shares, myself twenty, and Stephen Herriard ten. When Nathaniel virtually retired from active partnership, I became managing director."
"And you, sir?" asked Hemingway, looking at Stephen.
"Nothing to do with it. Shares wished on to me when I was twenty-one."
"Oh no, the business was just Nathaniel and me!" said Mottisfont. "Well, he more or less retired some years ago, leaving me to carry on."
"What does more or less mean, sir?"
"Less," said Stephen.