“Just a minute, Henry. Some of this is all right––and some isn’t. The space you mention is what you’re using now for the––er––nursery, I take it. And the privilege of the lessee to enlarge the upper story at his own expense is all right.” His brows had gone down again, and Anna shivered. “But even if you’ve got your whole rental in advance, you aren’t entitled to claim all of it belongs to this year’s income. As a matter of fact, you actually earn a twenty-fourth of that whole payment every month for twenty-four months.”
Henry spoke over his shoulder. “You haven’t read far enough.”
“Oh!” Mr. Archer laughed, but his voice was no lighter. “Why, how on earth did you persuade anybody to execute such an agreement as that?”
Henry faced around. “Bob Standish engineered it. Told this chap as long as he paid in advance anyway, to get a bargain, it wouldn’t make any difference to him, and it made a lot to me. Nine hundred and fifty a month for July and August and fifty a month for the next twenty-two months.”
“But my dear boy, you still don’t earn more than a twenty-fourth of the whole rental each month. That’s ordinary book-keeping. I should have thought you’d have learned it. It makes no difference when the lessee pays. All you can credit yourself in July and August is––”
“Oh, no, Mr. Archer. There’s a consideration. You’ll find it on the next page. I’m to keep the theatre closed every afternoon in July and August so the lessee can make his alterations to the second story. And the extra price 294 for those months is to pay me for loss of revenue. So it does count on this year’s income. Maybe I’m no impresario, but by gosh, I can keep a set of books.”
Mr. Archer nodded briskly. “That is different. Why, Henry, as far as I can see ... what’s this? 300 Chestnut Street? But the Orpheum’s on Main.”
“300 Chestnut is the back entrance,” said Henry. He smiled across at Anna, and she stood up and came a perilous step towards him. “Well, old lady,” said Henry, and the same wide, foolish smile of utter joy was on his lips. “I guess this fixes it. I––”
He was rudely interrupted by the violent opening of the door. His Aunt Mirabelle stood there, dynamic, and behind her, in a great fluster of dismay and apprehension, stood the chairman of the Quarters Committee of the Reform League.