With immense dignity Posy moved to the door. If she wanted to impress upon her father that she was now a woman grown, she succeeded admirably. As the door closed behind her, Tomlin said:
"Bit short with her, wasn't you?"
"Do her good. I won't have no tête-à-têtin' between her and James Miggott."
I
They sat down. Quinney pushed a box of cigars across his desk. It annoyed him slightly that Tomlin selected one with unflattering suspicion, smelling it, and putting it to his ear.
"It's all right, Tom: I only smoke the best in this room."
Tomlin lit the cigar, inhaled the smoke, and nodded approvingly:
"Must admit, Joe, that you know a bit about most things. Come on surprisingly, you have."
At this Quinney smiled complacently. Tomlin continued, eyeing his companion shrewdly and genially:
"I've a proposition to lay before you, Joe."