"Don't samples generally stand for the bulk?" he asked.
The broker looked at him rather sharply and smiled.
"It depends upon the people with whom you deal and the skill of their warehouseman. A man who knows his job can draw samples that will pass a good-middling lot as prime, and this without the buyer's being able to claim that they're not fairly representative. But of course, you know——"
"I don't know. You see, I'm a beginner," Marston replied, and examined a ticket stuck in the oil. "Well, I saw this lot barreled in Africa. The quality is not prime."
The broker looked surprised and annoyed. "Then your manager has made things rather awkward for us. One uses some judgment about samples, but our customer must have a first-class article and we engaged to supply him at a stated price. I'll own that the price was a little below what others asked. We quoted on your offer."
"Our offer stands," said Marston, who indicated the jar. "Will you be satisfied if the oil we send is all like this?"
"We will be quite satisfied."
"Very well. Send in the order and you'll get the quality you want."
The broker lighted a cigarette and gave Marston his case. "I like the way you do business. We are buying for big people, the trade's steady and good, but we haven't dealt much with Wyndhams' before. If this lot's all right, other orders will follow."
"You can take it for granted the lot will be all right," Marston replied.